Climate friendly mobility: Quick fixes to reduce CO2
We do not stand still.
Our mobility has a direct and indirect impact on our personal, but also on our collective, CO2 footprint. 30% of the 8 tons of CO2 per year generated by each European is generated by transport. Our greenhouse gas emissions on the road need to go down by making ‘small’ changes toward a more conscious lifestyle and much more efficient use of transport.
Governments are focusing on infrastructural upgrades and changes in transportation modes. Mobility users can help here by adoption of more conscious mindset and healthy lifestyle by applying the following:
Use public transport or pedal your way to work. Compared to a private car, up to 70% of CO2 emissions for the same distance will be saved. A bicycle is also a good way to get from A to B. Cycling is not only good for the environment, it also generates less noise emission, is even cheaper than public transport and also improves fitness.
Switch to bus or long-distance train for vacation travel. Many EU cities are easily accessible by (night) train. There is also a wide range of long-distance travel options by bus or long-distance train. In Europe in particular, air travel can easily be avoided.
When buying a car, pay attention to the emission value of the vehicle. Off-roaders are out. The bigger and heavier the car, the higher the fuel consumption and the higher the CO2 emissions. Electric cars have significantly lower emissions than vehicles powered by fossil fuels when used over many years.
Try a carpool. The car becomes less of a problem if you share it with others or carpool. One car can easily transport four to five people, which saves CO2. If five people travel 100 kilometers a day and carpool, the daily CO2 savings per person is about 15-20 kilograms.
Buy regional produce. In every village there is a small store that offers regional produce. This has two advantages: First, regional produce is healthier and produced in a more environmentally friendly way. In addition, such stores are often accessible without a car or they are at least closer than the nearest supermarket. And even if there is “only” the supermarket: Many city dwellers can easily go shopping on foot, which is also an environmentally friendly alternative.
What will be the result when consumers start adapting the sustainable mobility suggestions above?
- Noise reduction: High traffic loads in cities cause noise pollution for residents. Rail traffic, on the other
hand, is quiet(er) and causes less disturbance. - Better quality of life: The noise, as well as the high CO2 emissions caused by car traffic, limit the quality of life in cities.
- Healthier cities: Cars emit exhaust fumes into the air every day, harming the health of everyone from young to old.
- Protected nature: Less car traffic also means that fewer green spaces are converted to roads. This ultimately benefits nature.
- Improved climate: Our climate is the reason why sustainable mobility is coming into focus in the first place. More than 20 percent of CO2 emissions are caused by car traffic, and that has to change.
We are undergoing far reaching structural change. In the end, it’s all a question of priorities.
If you would like to talk about how consumers make trade-offs when it comes to climate friendly mobility, please contact Nimrod, Dam or Rob at ADK Insights. Feel free to follow our LinkedIn Page for regular updates.