Changes to how we travel, including switching out cars for more efficient public transport, will be necessary to reach the UK's climate goals, and relying on electric vehicles will not be enough, according to a new report.
Taking bus journeys is far more efficient than cars, and leaves roads more open. Image credit: Dusan Petkovic / Shutterstock
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) states that tackling car greenhouse gas emissions directly will be key to meeting these goals. It claims that if every person in Great Britain switched a little over a single car trip on average to bus or coach per month, it could reduce emissions by 2 million tonnes.
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A shift of two car trips per month could see a cumulative reduction of around 19.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
This is likely due to the fact that petrol and diesel will still be in use for at least another decade, if not longer, despite the looming ban on fully-petrol or diesel vehicles. Relying on a full switch to EVs will mean the necessary changes will take too long, and will not fix the major issues on Britain's roads, such as congestion and overcrowding, which can lead to more accidents.
For reference, a fully loaded bus has a capacity of 60 to 120 passengers, meaning it can take dozens of cars off the road. Cars are space inefficient, leaving more room for lorries, taxis, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
The transport sector is the highest emitter in the UK, and the one which has seen an emissions rise since 1990.
These emissions are also a key contributor to air pollution, which can cause respiratory diseases.
The report suggests the health savings from slashing emissions by this much could see £14.9 billion in healthcare cost savings by 2050 - enough to build 33 hospitals, the report claims.
Cumulative congestion savings could total £28.8 billion within the same time frame, likely due to increased efficiency for public transport and essential transport such as freight, which is vital for local supply chains. Fewer losses lead to higher profits, which would contribute to the total.
There are also those who simply have to take cars, either for work or commute, such as delivery drivers, taxi drivers and carers, or public service workers such as the police, firefighters and paramedics. Leaving more space on the roads makes their lives easier.
“Without shifting demand from cars to buses and coaches, the UK will fall short of its net zero ambitions", the CPT's chief executive Graham Vidler said.
“The report shows that small changes in the way we travel can create a big difference. To unlock these benefits, each of us needs to switch just one journey per month from car to bus by the end of this decade, two journeys per month by 2050. That’s it.
“The encouraging findings from the report and our consumer research demonstrate that the shift from cars to buses and coaches is necessary, desirable and, most importantly, possible".
The report also tried to gauge public interest in public transport. According to the data, around half of the respondents revealed they would be willing to take the bus if services were better.
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In addition, one-in-four car drivers quizzed have considered taking the bus more compared to this time last year - with half stating they have.
Consumers appear to be more environmentally conscious in the modern age, which could lead to further savings.
“Our findings show that [people] want to have a more balanced mix between using their car and taking the bus or a coach. With many parts of the country set to invest in speeding up journey times, there’s a great opportunity for people to start shifting some of their journeys. Plus, getting more people on buses allows operators to invest in zero-emission, increase network capacity and reduce fares resulting in a better service for Brits all around", Vidler added.
- The CPT is an NGO that advocates for the bus and coach industry
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