DECARBONISATION OF TRANSPORT - NEXT STEPS

BY MICHAEL BELL, CHAIR, CIHT NORTHERN IRELAND REGION

Transport is one of the largest sources of global Green House Gas (GHG) emissions responsible for contributing to climate change, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the most significant. As a result, the decarbonisation of transport is one of the biggest issues facing the industry right now.

Governments across the world have committed to achieving significant reductions in GHG. The UK target is a 50% reduction in transport-related emissions by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. To achieve this target (over what is now only seven years) there is a need to implement a package of measures aimed at reducing the demand for travel ahead of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and the associated increase in electric vehicles. In addition to reducing emissions from transport, we also need to think about how we design, build, maintain, adapt and decommission our infrastructure. A recent report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) noted that Northern Ireland will fall short of its 2050 net zero target unless ‘radical action’ is taken.

Key Words

At a recent CIHT Technical Event, ‘Decarbonisation of Transport – Next Steps?’ members considered the current position in Northern Ireland and discussed potential ways to contribute to the decarbonisation of transport. The event was led by Dr Teresa McGrath from Queens University Belfast, beginning with a brief presentation of GHG levels and the Northern Ireland Travel Survey data, providing context to inform the discussions. There have been significant reductions in GHG levels from 1990 to 2020: -49% in the UK and -24% in NI.

However, the picture for transport-specific GHG emissions is less encouraging, only -5% in the UK and, in fact, an increase of 22% in NI (1990 and 2019). We have some way to go to decarbonise transport, but large reductions have been made in other complex sectors and the highways and transport industry should seek to learn from effective strategies adopted and implemented. At the start and end of the event, participants were asked to complete online surveys to determine their understanding of the current position and which reduction methods could be employed. The results from these surveys, combined with information from the discussions during the event, were used to produce a key words diagram, with the size of text representing the frequency of responses.

Key Themes

Participants also completed a ‘design sprint’ exercise to establish the key themes for transport decarbonisation in Northern Ireland. Participants were asked to develop ideas that could contribute to decarbonisation. These ideas were displayed together and for discussion to group them into key theme areas, with voting to help rank the importance of themes. The relative importance of the theme reduces from left to right and between these themes was the overarching need for collaboration between organisations to effectively develop timelines and implement change. CIHT has made its own Climate Change Pledge, with commitments aimed at supporting members to adapt and respond. Updated continuing professional development (CPD) guidance includes an expectation that all CIHT members should devote some of their annual CPD to developing the skills and knowledge to contribute to the decarbonisation of highways and transportation. The recent launch of the Transport Decarbonisation Pathway, which is available to members through the CIHT Learn platform, aims to provide a structured framework fulfilling climate action-related CPD goals. This includes an introductory on-line course on Transport Decarbonisation and some more advanced material around skills and topics relevant to different job roles.

Key Themes to support Transport Decarbonisation.

(credit: Dr Teresa McGrath, QUB)