Public transport groups have unveiled a blueprint to help the Government meet carbon reduction targets by taking one billion car journeys off the UK’s roads.

The Greener Journeys campaign, launched by the leading five bus operators, aims to deliver 50% more savings in transport CO2 emissions than currently planned under government policy.

Its manifesto, The one billion challenge, is calling on the Government to set targets for local authorities to encourage modal shift, introduce a fairer tax regime for bus and coach passengers, and promote bus priority and park and ride. It demonstrates that if people switch from car to bus for just one journey in 25, there would be one billions fewer car journeys on UK roads over the next three years.

A new YouGov poll unveiled to coincide with the launch of the campaign found that increasing public transport patronage was seen as second only to recycling as the most realistic measure to help tackle climate change.

The manifesto also proposes a bus scrappage scheme to drive investment in low-carbon buses, and encouraging bus travel to reduce ‘school run’ traffic.

The bus operators warn that technological advances alone are not enough to achieve the Government’s carbon reduction targets.

Simon Posner, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: ‘The Government cannot afford to ignore the massive potential of buses and coaches to deliver huge savings in CO2 from the transport sector.’

The Greener Journeys campaign is being backed by Sir Rod Eddington, author of the eponymous transport report, and environmentalist Jonathan Porritt, the former chair of the Sustainable Development Commission. Sir Rod said: ‘I urge the Government at all levels to seize the Greener Journeys initiative and work with bus and coach operators towards a greener future.’

The campaign was founded by Arriva, First Group, Go-Ahead, National Express and Stagecoach.