The Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Transportation
Over 90% of fuel used for transportation is still petroleum based,1 accounting for over a quarter of the world’s CO2 emissions. As fossil fuels, petrol and diesel release carbon dioxide; they are a key driver in climate change. Despite its environmental impact, transport is essential for connecting people, driving economic growth, and facilitating the exchange of goods and services. Below, we look at cleaner transportation alternatives, and how they impact the environment.
Transportation and The Environment
A third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport.2 Sustainable transport, that produces low or zero emissions, can decrease emissions and reduce the negative impacts on the environment. Examples include bikes, electric vehicles, and those that run on hydrogen.
Public transport is considered more sustainable than traveling in individual vehicles. For example, although buses run on fossil fuels, they carry more passengers meaning there are less emissions per person. Car sharing also allows multiple people to save on journeys and travel together.
Trains are thought to be one of the cleanest forms of transportation, as they produce less carbon per person and often run on electricity, which can be generated from renewable energy and release no carbon emissions.
Benefits of Sustainable Travel
Air Pollution
Vehicles release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, impacting climate change. By reducing personal vehicle usage or taking public transport, emissions may be reduced by up to 45%. This decrease helps to improve air quality, and the decreased presence of pollutants results in clearer skies and improved visibility.
Healthier People
Lower emissions mean improved air quality, resulting in fewer respiratory illnesses. Additionally, better air quality encourages outdoor activity, which promotes exercise and helps overall health and fitness. This also results in increased social interaction, fostering community spirit and bringing people together, resulting in a happier society.
Chemicals
When we collectively use less vehicles to travel, it reduces the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere. Vehicles use anti-freeze, often containing ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, which, when released, contaminates soil and water. This is harmful to marine life and local habitats.
Roads and Infrastructure
A reduction in road traffic means that less new infrastructure is needed. This helps to reduce water and ground pollution, preserving natural resources and reducing contamination of the local environment. This, in turn, supports local wildlife and helps to protect natural habitats.
Fossil Fuels
Using more sustainable modes of transport reduces our reliance on fossil fuels. The combustion of fuels such as oil and coal has released substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming. By adopting alternatives, we can reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and reduce the adverse effects of climate change to ensure a sustainable future.
Noise Pollution
Electric vehicles and bikes produce less noise pollution compared to combustion engines. This goes hand-in-hand with human and animal health, as noise pollution can affect cardiovascular health, mental health and wildlife behaviour. Additionally, noise pollution is proven to impact sleep and can affect hibernation periods for animals, affecting an animal’s ability to conserve energy, ultimately proving fatal in worst case scenarios.
Businesses Part to Play
As a business, you can help to increase the use of sustainable transportation by encouraging employees to make small changes, offering green initiatives, and taking a closer look at your company transport.
Cycle to Work Scheme
To significantly reduce emissions, businesses can promote cycling as a transportation alternative for employees residing near to your location. The Cycle to Work initiative allows staff to acquire bicycles through their employer, operating as a hire arrangement, where the bike is paid for in monthly installments via salary sacrifice. Employees can choose to return, purchase, or keep the bicycle after the scheme ends, which would hopefully encourage them to continue this climate-positive lifestyle.
Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice
Offering an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme to your employees allows them to have access to cleaner electric vehicles, not only cutting down costs for a business but also helping the environment. The scheme works by individuals sacrificing a portion of their salary each month in return for an eco-friendly car. As an employer, this doesn’t cost you and helps you to save money with lower National Insurance contributions due to a lower salary for the individual.
Electric Freight
For businesses that must use transport for freight, there are many alternatives to using traditional petroleum fuelled vehicles. Electric trucks with rechargeable batteries help to produce lower levels of pollution, whilst Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) alternatives help to reduce air pollution. Furthermore, bio-fuel trucks that operate on renewable resources like plant crops and organic waste, lessen the reliance on fossil fuels.
Overview
Sustainable transportation methods can withstand the effects of climate change, and small changes can make an impact. Consider walking, cycling, or carpooling when feasible to cut down on car emissions, or if you must drive, then improving your driving can also minimise emissions, such as avoiding speeding and sudden braking. As a business, key factors to assess when looking at reducing transport emissions include travel distance and the associated costs.
1 BBC
2 Gov.uk
