Environmental repot urges behaviour change

An Institution of Mechanical Engineers product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 6, 2008

As part of a route to a sustainable transport system, an integration of energy, pricing and planning policies are urgent, but top of that list is the need for societal change.

A report out today by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is urging the government to make people feel an excessive carbon foot-print is as shameful as drink driving.

The report encourages rail to be the lead 'green' transport of the future.

The report is based on cross-modal and cost-effective policies designed to deliver the government's transport emissions targets.

As part of a route to a sustainable transport system, an integration of energy, pricing and planning policies are urgent, but top of that list is the need for societal change.

The report claims that government campaigns have led 72% of drivers to deem it unacceptable to drink and drive.

It argues that a similar campaign on the same scale is now necessary to raise awareness of climate change.

Cliff Perry, Vice President of the IMechE's Railway Division said: "While the report examines areas of technology where we can make a difference, such as regenerative braking, the real issue here is mindset - changing people's minds and making them aware what their journey is doing to the environment is by far the most effective contribution that the government can make, along with its investment in rail and public transport infrastructure".

"If 72% of drivers understood that their car journey emissions were unacceptable, what choices would they make?".

"Clear marking of tickets with accurate emission figures is a simple way to raise awareness of environmental costs, along with measures that do the same for road journeys".

"Our journey choices today are dictated by convenience and cost".

"Air travel is seen as an attractive option partly because of cheap tickets and perceived quicker travel times".

"The carbon footprint of such journeys, however, from door to door is often 10-15 times greater than the equivalent rail trip".

"One return air journey, London to Paris generates the same CO2 as 11 return journeys by rail".

In a typical journey to London from Paris (470km) the cost per person by rail is GBP154 and 22kg of C02 per passenger.

By air the cost is GBP85, but 244kg of CO2, while by car it is GBP171.40 and 58kg of CO2.

The report claimsthat for the government to achieve a consistent message, a cohesive set of pricing, energy and planning policies will needed to reinforce, not the environmental message.

Bill Banks, Deputy President of the IMechE said: "Currently the number of cars per head of population in the USA is approximately 750 per 1000 persons (approaching one per person.)".

"In India and China the relevant figure is in the region of 5 to 10 per 1,000 persons".

"The stunning effect that an increase in car usage by the vast populations of these two countries would have is simply incalculable and unsustainable with present technology".

"We clearly need to make a difference and that's what this report is about - this is not just about engineers this is about you, the public and our planet".

"The above values are related to the GDP per capita".

"The UK comes in at something like 400 vehicle ownership per 1000 persons".

"It would be impossible to sustain the increase in car usage that could be envisaged from the above unless new forms of energy were contemplated".

"The energy balance must change and our dependence on oil, coal and gas cannot be sustained".

"Societal values, behavioural patterns and current technology need to be changed to offset transport emissions".

The report makes four policy recommendations to government; a government campaign for 'greener' transport choices; revised travel pricing policies to include the external and environmental costs, a transport environmental duty, and an increased renewable energy source in the UK power generation mix.