Is transport the driving force to destination net zero?
With the transport sector accounting for 24% of carbon emissions across rail, road, sea and air, we are faced with the challenge of transforming how we travel to reach the destination of net zero. Reimagining the way we connect to places, work, education, healthcare and shops today is crucial to limiting global warming for a more sustainable tomorrow.
To prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change it is vital that we prioritise rethinking mobility and take rapid ambitious action for a greener society. If we don’t act now it is estimated that transport emissions could rise to as much as 60% by 2050.
Convenience = carbon
Within the transport sector, road transport is responsible for 74% of total emissions making it the highest culprit of carbon emissions from how we commute. Alone, it is responsible for 10% of global emissions. The main reason for this? Convenience. People often choose to travel by car as it is the quickest, easiest way to travel taking them directly from A to B with minimal delay. In the UK we are heavily automobile dependent, with 68% of us commuting to and from work by car, something that the environment can no longer sustain.
To reduce the climate impact of transport it is crucial that alongside a move to electric vehicles, we reduce the demand on the road with investment in improved public transport infrastructure such as rail. In it’s sixth carbon budget, outlining the UK’s path to Net Zero, the Climate Change Committee identifies that for car travel we must reach a 9% reduction in miles by 2035 and 17% by 2050.
Transforming transport infrastructure
Our reliance on the road highlights the vulnerabilities of our transport infrastructure and the challenge we face in migrating to sustainable alternatives. For this to happen we need good, reliable networks that offer the level of convenience we need that take us from where we want to we want to go to and at the time that we need it to. There are a number of factors that will be critical to successfully reducing the demand on road travel and increase the utilisation of public transport such as connectivity, speed, reliability, inclusivity and experience.
Sustainable transport solutions don’t just protect the planet
The vast number of benefits that a shift to sustainable transport will bring doesn’t just end at protecting the planet. The significant reduction in emissions will improve air quality, key to public health & wellbeing and safety through the reduction of road accidents which totalled over 140,000 in the UK alone in 2020. Improved connectivity also boosts social and economic prosperity driving growth and creating resilient societies. HS2 is an excellent example of this, not only will it provide zero carbon transport and reduce road demand but will also improve connectivity, capacity, speed and employment opportunities.
