Driving into a greener future
Domestic transport is responsible was around 21% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK in 2007. By making more careful travel choices, such as swapping the car for the bus, you could save money and cut CO2 emissions too.
CO2 emissions of different types of transport in the UK in 2008
Vehicle | UK: total million tonnes of CO2, (domestic only) | Percentage of total transport emissions (domestic only) |
Cars | 72.1 | 55% |
Trains | 2.2 | 1.6% |
Buses | 4.9 | 3.7% |
HGVs | 23.5 | 18% |
Planes | 2.1 | 1.6% |
Car travel is the greatest cause of CO2 emissions by transport in the UK
According to estimates by Transport Direct, compared to other passenger vehicles, over a distance of 100 miles a large car (with one occupant) will emit the most CO2 per traveller (41.4 kg), followed by a plane (27.5 kg), a small car (20.5 kg), a train (9.3 kg) and a coach (4.8 kg).
Car use has risen in the UK
In 2008, travel by car accounted for 63% of all trips made in the UK, and for almost 80% of all distance travelled.
Are we using more public transport?
More of us are taking the bus. Between 1995-97 and 2008, the average distance travelled by local bus outside London increased by 8%, and inside the capital by 61%.
The average distance travelled by surface rail also went up in this period – by 54%, accounting for 8% of all distance travelled in 2008.
What are the Government doing to help?
The Government has targeted transport in the fight against climate change. In the 2009 Low Carbon Transport: A Greener Future report, it set out plans to reduce domestic transport’s carbon footprint.
Plans included encouraging a greater use of public transport, supporting manufacturers of ultra-low carbon vehicles and promoting the development of sustainable biofuels.
As the then Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis explained: “We all know that good transport systems and services are fundamental to our economy and our quality of life. We have also long recognised that transport has adverse impacts on the environment. Avoiding dangerous climate change means we must act, both in the UK and internationally, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport.”
Key facts
- Road travel makes up 92% of domestic transport-related green house gas emissions
- In 2008 car travel accounted for 55% of the UK’s domestic transport-related emissions
Quick link
Act on CO2:http://acton co2.direct.gov.uk
Team Green Britain and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd (LOCOG) do not endorse any of the products, companies, organisations, opinions or websites that have been mentioned in this article. The content of this article has merely been provided as background to, or discussion on, various topical issues relating to the environment and it is not necessarily representative of the views of Team Green Britain and LOCOG. Further, any figures and calculations noted in this article are estimates (unless otherwise specified), and may vary in light of numerous factors and readers are advised to undertake their own research in relation to the facts and figures applicable to their particular circumstance.