The Climate Council has issued a plan to strengthen the transport sector while making it more sustainable
The Australian Climate Council has turned its gaze to the transport industry as it looks to cut emissions in one of the fastest growing emissions sectors in the country.
Behind energy and land use, transport is in the nation’s top three emissions sources, with the Climate Council saying cars and trucks are major causes of greenhouse gas pollution.
The council is calling for the industry to escalate the transition to electric vehicles, but says this move alone won’t fix the sector’s emissions problem.
Instead, the Climate Council wants the nation to consider changing the industry to a people-centred transport system, where electric vehicles is prioritised over standard cars and a variety of transport means are considered.
If transporting people rather than cars and trucks is the first thought, the council says there will be a multitude of benefits to the environment and to the industry.
The Climate Council says this shift in ideology would improve local air quality and health outcomes, save taxpayer dollars in future, reduce traffic on roads and on major freight routes, create new, high quality jobs, reduce the cost of living and increase accessibility for many citizens.
It all centres around choice of transport, rather than relying simply on cars for personal transport and trucks for industry carrying.
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The council’s idea centres around encouraging all freight operators to switch to electric vehicles while personal transport shifts from cars to a range of options such as walking, cycling and increased public transport services.
This choice is a way of fulfilling the needs of people, as the Climate Council points to annual Transport Opinion Surveys to strengthen the need for a new mindset on the transport industry.
For those wanting to change the transport industry’s outlook, the council says people can talk to local councils and members to begin planning for a sustainable future for the sector.