The new environmental sustainability division has 50 staff, bringing together the existing environmental teams with a new carbon team.
Objectives include implementing the organisation's net zero plan, enhancing biodiversity and reducing local environmental impacts from motorways and trunk roads.
National Highways’ environmental sustainability division is headed by Stephen Elderkin, who led the £1bn A12 upgrade scheme for the last three years. Before joining Highways England (as was), he worked for the Department of Energy & Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). His roles have included leading the government analysis for the Climate Change Act, carbon budgets and energy efficiency policies.
Stephen Elderkin said: “It’s a privilege to take on this role at such a critical time. We’ve seen how COP26 has brought heightened public recognition of the need for action on climate change.
“National Highways connects the country, playing a vital role in national prosperity. But we must do that sustainably, making our contribution to achieving a net zero economy and showing ambition and leadership to leave a positive legacy through our approach to the environment.
“The challenge to us and the industry is to demonstrate how we are delivering improved environment outcomes; rapidly decarbonising transport and supporting biodiversity to create the cleaner, greener network a zero carbon Britain needs.
“The environmental challenges we face can only be achieved by working together - I look forward to working with our supply chain partners and stakeholders to achieve our ambitious goals.”
National Highways engineering director Mike Wilson said: “Our net zero carbon plan and the new division will put roads at the heart of the low carbon economy, while preserving the convenience and economic benefit of an efficient road network.”
National Highway's net zero plan is online at nationalhighways.co.uk/netzerohighways.
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