Hello, I'm Tamerson Ford. Welcome to Business Daily from the BBC. If transport is such a massive contributor to climate change, why are we still building more roads?

Roads embody a lot of carbon. They take a lot of carbon in building them. They are very carbon intensive in themselves. And of course,

more than anything else, they're built to attract traffic onto them. But some countries are

beginning to say no to these multi-million dollar road projects. Once we've built the roads,

it's too late. Once you've put concrete on the national park, it's too late. You need to make these

decisions now. In today's Business Daily from the BBC, we find out who is saying no to new

highways. And we'll ask the question, do we really need any more?

Roads are crucial. They stimulate economic and social growth. They provide access to health services, food, education and employment. For many developing countries, they're one of the main things needed to pull them out of poverty.

But in the global north, the richest countries in the world, do we really need any more?

Doesn't more roads simply mean more cars and more pollution?

Some countries are beginning to say no to new roads.

You know, we're having a love affair with the car as a human race,

and this is kind of the tailing off of that love affair,

as we realise that although the car is convenient,

it's really damaging our environment and actually ourselves as well.

Julie James is the Welsh Minister for Environment.

In June, Wales announced they were putting a freeze on all new road building plans

while they conducted a review.

Since then, two multi-million dollar road construction projects have been scrapped.

Julie says if Wales is to reach its net zero carbon targets by 2050,

drastic action is needed.

Roads embody a lot of carbon.

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