Transport

Design for new electric commuter trains for Wellington. Wellington has been acknowledged as one of the world's most sustainable small cities because of factors including electric trains and buses
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.


1Drive
efficiently
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.

Fuel efficient driving tips

Fuel efficient cars page


2Travel with
others
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.

Public transport page

Car pooling page



3Get on your
bike
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.

Cycling page


4The biofuel
option
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.

Biofuels page



5Choose the right freight 
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.

Freight and food miles page

Air travel page

Sea travel page


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Page: Transport tips, Sustainable transport solutions - Last Updated: 15th May, 2010 | Site Map