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Transport
Sustainable transport solutions
including fuel efficient vehicles, driving tips, public transport and cycling
Transport is a major contributor to global warming. Transporting people and freight by road, sea and air contributes to about one quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. From a climate perspective, the transport sector is out of control – it is the fastest growing source of greenhouse emissions, increasing at well over 2% a year. If this continues it will result in a doubling of transport emissions in less than 30 years with huge consequences for climate change and oil supplies. This growth results from more and more people driving cars and flying, along with the increasing use of trucks to carry freight instead of more fuel efficient rail transport.
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Drive
efficiently
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We need to reduce the climate changing impacts of car use drastically. To do this will require changes in our behaviour as well as changes in car technology. To put it simply, we need to drive less, use public transport more, drive in a more fuel efficient manner when we do drive.
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2
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Travel with
others
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Public transportation is a far more efficient mode of personal transport than a private vehicle. Benefits to the environment include less emissions and pollution, less energy use and less need to occupy and pave land for roading and parking spaces. If public transport isn't available or convenient then think about car-pooling.
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3
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Get on your
bike
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If you can walk or cycle. Cycling in New Zealand is popular, safe, healthy and enjoyable. When it replaces other forms of transport (commuting to work for instance) it also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases. With the price of fossil fuels on a continuous trend upwards cycling makes financial sense as well.
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4
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The biofuel
option
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Biofuels are made from renewable sources or as the byproduct of waste streams. Since biofuels are not 'clean', they utilise land that could be used for food crops and for other impacts such as deforestation, soil erosion, water resources there is plenty of debate about the efficacy of biofuels.
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5
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Choose the right freight
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Not all freight is equal because different transport methods create relatively more greenhouse gases than others. Air freight is much worse than sea freight. Road freight is much worse that rail freight. Choosing and asking for more eco-friendly freight methods will reduce emissions.
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