Australians must triple their use of public and active transport to reduce emissions from transport by 75 per cent by 2030, new research from the Climate Council has found.
The study, Shifting Gear: The Path to Cleaner Transport, found that transport is the biggest source of greenhouse emissions after energy, and trips from private cars and light commercial vehicles make up 62 per cent of this. Some 81 per cent of trips are made by private car, with just 14 per cent by public transport and five per cent by active transport.
If the status quo continues between now and 2030, it would result in the emission of 63.1 mt CO2e in 2030, a 34 per cent increase from 2005 levels. The study mapped three other scenarios, including a “transformational action” one where private car trips fell to 20 per cent of all trips and public transport rose to 62 per cent of trips and 18 per cent were walking or cycling. This would result in 2030 transport emissions of 13MtCO2e, which represents a 25.4 per cent decrease on 2005 levels.
The Climate Council also explored a “transformational and equitable action” scenario, which recognises that some groups such as the elderly or disabled need to use private car, and assumed that private car trips would fall to 36 per cent of trips in conjunction with a 49 per cent rise in public transport and a 15 per cent boost to active transport.
“To get to net zero, the way we get around in Australia needs to change. There’s been a lot of focus on increasing uptake of electric vehicles as a solution, but rapidly cleaning up transport calls for a bigger re-think on how we move around,” Climate Council head of advocacy, Dr Jennifer Rayner, said.
Rayner called for more investment in reliable and accessible public transport infrastructure, especially in outer suburban and regional areas.
The Climate Council report called for greater investment in public and active transport infrastructure such as better-connected bus lanes and footpaths, boosting investment in public transport and electrifying all public transport by 2035 with renewable energy.
Social and economic benefits abound
Social and economic benefits of reduced car travel and increased public and active transport use include cleaner and healthier air with less particulate matter, safer roads which prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, improved mental and physical health from active transport, reduced cost of living because public and active transport are affordable or free, and better transport availability.
Boost active transport also carries significant economic benefits. For every $1 of public funding invested in active transport infrastructure, $2 in returns are generated, according to a 2020 Climate Council study. Every dollar of public funds invested in transport could unlock 50 cents more in private co-investment. Public and active transport also reduce the costs of traffic congestion, which cost the Australian economy $38.8 billion annually, according to a 2019 Infrastructure Australia Audit.
Onshoring the manufacturing of EVs could create thousands of jobs. Australia already has the building blocks for such an industry with critical mineral deposits, strong industrial infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce and growing consumer demand, the study also found.