Where our thinking needs to be to reduce transport emissions

Transformation of New Zealand’s transport sector isn’t just about funding infrastructure. We need to invest in technology, pilot new approaches and shift to a sharing economy that means people no longer feel they need to own their own vehicles.

We also need ambitious national and local targets to encourage people to use shared and active modes of transport. The University of Otago report Turning the tide calls for a 38 percent reduction in car trips by 2050 to achieve a reduction in carbon emissions. Any targets developed for the future of New Zealand’s transport sector need to consider the Shared mobility Principles for Liveable Cities endorsed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

While a shift to EVs is an important part of New Zealand’s low carbon future, it’s not the whole answer. There needs to be a stronger focus on shifting people away from solo travel using private cars. It’s also important to make sure the conversion to EVs occurs without compromising public transport coverage.

Building the foundations for sustained culture change

There is an underlying assumption of a continued pattern of vehicle ownership that we need to move away from. Societal behaviours are shifting to where driving alone isn’t the first or easiest, most convenient way to move around. This can be achieved through travel behaviour change initiatives and by engaging with people from all walks of life. Research has shown that promoting recreational cycling can increases the likelihood of a person considering it as an option for travel to work.

Looking at cross-sector benefits will also bring about long term sustained culture changes around how people choose to travel, particularly in cities. Whether it’s to enable the transport sector to work closely with the heath sector to create an environment that enables healthy living or the tourism sector imbedding sustainable travel options within tourism offerings. Change initiatives have a crucial role to play in enabling long term sustained culture change. Too often behaviour change is seen as an add on and not part of the holistic approach to managing the transport system.

Currently behaviour change initiatives struggle to attract funding, not because of a lack of availability, but because it’s very difficult to forecast the change that will be achieved using accepted economic models. This presents a challenge in convincing decision makers of the tangible benefits and the value for money proposition.

Bio

Louise Baker, Technical Principal – Transport
Louise enjoys the challenge of considering how technology can help achieve policy goals and how transport systems can be changed in ways that help cities and towns to become more liveable and find their place in nature.