Transport
Transport is a key part of everyone’s lives. Apart from personal transport, nearly all the goods and services we buy are transported. Materials to build our homes, public buildings and urban infrastructure have all been carried, mostly by road. Transport accounts for around 26 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions.
We all like travelling when it’s easy – the number of trips and distance we travel for leisure are steadily increasing. We commute greater distances (not always through choice) and we buy more food and goods from abroad, much of it coming from thousands of miles away.
The problem is, all this movement of people and products burns huge amounts of fossil fuel. It also takes up our time, our land, and much of this activity does not ultimately make us any happier. Noise and air pollution have a detrimental effect on other people, both locally and nationally.
Responsible travel is not just about using your car less. We suggest ways in which you can make a real difference, without having to give up freedom and convenience.