In a previous post, we asked how our lives would actually change if we managed to achieve Net Zero. And the answer was: quite a lot! While the small, everyday choices can make a difference when it comes to reducing emissions, decarbonisation affects three key services we all rely on.
- Transporting people and goods
- Producing and using electricity
- Heating our homes and workplaces
Let’s take a closer look at the first item on the list – transport. With recent advances in electric vehicles (EVs), it may seem that we’re already well on our way to Net Zero. But things aren’t nearly so simple.
What happens in 2035
Are you thinking about buying an electric car? In a few years’ time, that’s going to be a pretty straightforward decision. The UK is set to ban all sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2035, in line with the EU’s deadline. After that, if you want a brand-new vehicle, you’ll need to pick a fully electric model.
When it comes to decarbonising transport, going electric isn’t enough. While they may be clean to run, EVs are resource- and emissions-intensive to produce. That’s why it’s important to reduce overall reliance on cars.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that all petrol and hybrid cars will be off the road in 2035. There will be plenty of roadworthy vehicles still in operation, and many people will still choose to buy second-hand. And, arguably, that’s quite sensible. It wouldn’t be a sustainable move to force people to scrap perfectly functional cars, or purchase a brand-new vehicle that’s well outside their budget.
So even this decision – often referred to as a ‘blanket ban’ – isn’t as drastic as it may seem. It’s just one step in a longer process.
Systematic challenges
When it comes to decarbonising transport, going electric isn’t enough. While they may be clean to run, EVs are resource- and emissions-intensive to produce. That’s why it’s important to reduce overall reliance on cars.
However, this isn’t easy, especially in the UK, where the public transport network isn’t reliable or affordable. People who live in rural areas usually have to drive to access basic amenities. And those who work in demanding, high-mobility professions, such as social care, need their own vehicles to take them from appointment to appointment. Since they’re often on a low wage, much of their pay packet goes towards keeping their current car on the road. And they’re very unlikely to trade that car for an expensive new EV any time soon.
For those who are less reliant on their own transport, we might be asking ourselves ‘Do I even need a car’, bearing in mind that even building an EV produces a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
Not just consumers
In discussing all this, it’s easy to forget that half the transport that takes place in the UK involves moving goods, not people. Without a German-style rail freight infrastructure, it’s impossible to substitute trains for trucks without massive investment and expansion.
Experts are divided on the best alternative. Should we run wires along the inside lane of all the motorways, for electric trucks to use? Or is it more effective to push on with developing hydrogen fuel technologies? And, if so, how should that hydrogen be produced to minimise further emissions?
By now, it should be clear that the 2035 ban is just one aspect of a very complex process. Done right, decarbonising transport means sustained, systematic change – the kind that will affect all our lives.
If you want to put yourself in the shoes of a city’s transport director, sister company Heuristic offer a unique Transport Planner workshop, an unforgettable day of learning and fun.
