Clean Roads, Clean Skies
is a call to action

Clean Roads, Clean Skies is an organisation created to offer solutions on how to reduce the impact of transportation emissions to Australian Adults.

Overview

How much of an impact does the use of polluting methods of transportation have on our climate?

The biggest source of emissions

Globally, transportation accounts for around 24% of global emissions, with around half of that originating from personal motor vehicles like cars, taxis, and motorbikes. The rest of the transportation emissions are caused by freight vehicles, aviation, ships, and rail. The combined emissions from these types of transport equate to roughly 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, almost one metric ton for every person alive, making transportation the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

24% is 24% too much

Through the combustion of fossil fuels, carbon emissions from transportation are damaging our environment in countless ways, and it is significantly more destructive than most people realise. One of the most noticeable and detrimental effects of carbon emissions is poor air quality, which is known to cause difficulty breathing and can result in a worrying amount of health effects. These can include headaches, dizziness, restlessness, sweating, tiredness, and increased heart rate—and that’s not even an exhaustive list. Because carbon dioxide is an asphyxiant, it can have dangerous effects on the human brain. The gas has been proven to affect brain activity at CO2 levels of around 1000 ppm, which is already a reality in countries like China. If Australia keeps relying on carbon-emitting vehicles for transportation, the damaging health effects will become increasingly common and affect everything from economic growth to life expectancy and mental health.

Beijing, China, where the particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) is 106.71 µg/m3, almost 25 times higher than Adelaide.

A Slippery Slope

Another consequence of relying on carbon-emitting vehicles is global warming. Although the direct effects are arguably less noticeable compared to something like poor air quality, the changes are equally damaging and has caused Australia to reach record-high temperatures in recent years. Across the country, the number of days that have broken heat records has doubled in the past fifty years. These higher temperatures result in catastrophic droughts, rampant wildfires, and floods, the severity of which is only getting worse. Until action is taken, these trends will all continue to worsen and the effects will be irreversible if we do not act urgently.

Average Temperature in Australia Since 2000 (Red = Hotter).

Harmful to more than just humans

Transportation also leads to less obvious effects that decrease the quality of life in urban and suburban settings. Noise and light pollution caused by loud motor vehicles affects the sleep patterns of those who live nearby, which decreases mental health and productivity. Another lesser-known cause of noise and light pollution is its effect on ecosystems. Noise and light pollution often prevent animals from getting sufficient rest, which decreases their health and chance of survival. This, in conjunction with the land that had to be cleared to build road infrastructure, has contributed to the substantial decline of Australian animals in the wild.

Changes You Can Make

How viable and effective are the options that the average adult has to reduce their transportation emissions and how does this benefit the sustainability of Australian cities?

Everyone can help

Even simple changes in your lifestyle can result in a significant positive impact on the environment. One of the most effective ways to do this is to take alternate forms of transport whenever possible. In urban areas, the footpaths, dense population, and relatively flat ground make walking and cycling a feasible alternative to driving. This is the best option for the environment as no greenhouse gasses are emitted when travelling, meaning travelling this way does not contribute to global warming or carbon emissions at all. The only pollution caused by walking or cycling is in the initial construction of infrastructure, like footpaths and bikeways. Though, these are much lower than the comparable infrastructure needed for cars as they are smaller, require much less maintenance, and do not need expensive technology like traffic lights or speed cameras.

Alternatives already exist

However, buses, trains, and trams are also available in most large Australian cities. These serve as a better alternative for travelling longer distances and in unfavourable weather conditions. While these options still pollute the environment somewhat, they have a substantially lower impact than cars and motorbikes. It is estimated that taking public transport for a trip reduces pollution by around half. Though, that figure is relatively conservative and would be higher for people who travel alone and doesn’t account for electric and hybrid buses. Additionally, If more people were to take these alternative transport options, the roads would be less congested, meaning those who still choose to drive would spend less time idling, and therefore their cars would emit less greenhouse gas.

A comparison of the space required to transport 52 people by Australia's Cycling Promotion Fund.

Will your next car be electric?

Still, there are some downsides to public transport. Notably, they run on a schedule, only travel to certain places, and are less accessible in rural areas. In situations where these factors make public transport impracticable, the best alternative is electric cars. As these vehicles use batteries instead of fossil fuels, they emit no greenhouse gasses except in their initial construction. Although they have a higher upfront cost, it is estimated that the average Australian saves $1,600 per year from not buying petrol after accounting for energy prices. Other options include hybrid cars and fuel-efficient cars. These still emit some greenhouse gasses, but they may be a better option for people who cannot afford the upfront cost of an EV or live rurally where there is limited access to EV charging stations.

A better future for everyone

If the majority of people made these changes to their lifestyle, Australia’s carbon emissions would significantly decrease, reducing the country’s overall emissions by up to 11%. As a result, Australian cities would be better and more sustainable places to live, increasing the quality of life and mental health. Moreover, alternatives to driving are almost always cheaper and sometimes free, which leaves the average person with more money, further increasing quality of life.

Local produce first

However, personal transport is only one source of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. The shipping of goods also contributes a significant amount of co2 to the environment. Products like fruit, vegetables, meat, and baked goods can often be made locally, meaning it doesn’t have to travel as far to get to you, which results in lower greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it benefits the local economy by supporting local farmers and producers.

Pears grown in Argentina, and packed in Thailand

The pears were sold in the US after travelling around 30,000km

CCPI countries coloured by their score in the ranking, with green representing a lower score (more environmentally conscious) and red representing a lower score.

One of the dirtiest developed countries

Although there is a lot the individual can do to reduce their carbon footprint, the government also has an imperative role, so it is vital you support candidates that are acting on climate change. This is especially important for Australia, as the federal government has been historically reluctant to implement new policies that support action on climate change, such as EV tax incentives and emission goals. As of 2022, Australia is ranked 59th out of the sixty-three countries in the United Nation’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) and remains a massive global supplier of fossil fuels, which is increasingly uncommon for rich, developed nations.

The best way to make a difference

As indispensable as individual action is, to achieve net-zero emissions, we need the everyone's help. As such, we urge you to share this page and view our shop to spread the word.

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References

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Clean Roads, Clean Skiesis a call to action