Sustainable transport facts for kids

Possible scenario of clean mobility

Sustainable transport means moving around in ways that are good for people and the planet. It looks at the vehicles we use, where their energy comes from, and the roads, railways, or waterways they travel on. The goal is to make sure our travel systems are effective, efficient, and don't harm the environment or contribute to climate change.

Transport systems have a big impact on our world. For example, in 2018, they caused about 20% of the world's carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. These emissions from transport are growing faster than in any other area that uses energy. Road transport also creates a lot of local air pollution and smog, which can make it hard to breathe.

Choosing sustainable transport helps our communities in many ways. It supports a healthy environment, improves social connections, and boosts the economy. When people have more ways to get around, especially affordable, low carbon options, everyone benefits. However, we need to balance the good things about easy travel with the costs, like pollution and traffic.

In the short term, we can make cars more fuel-efficient and reduce their emissions. For the long term, we want to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources for transport. This means looking at the entire journey of a transport system, from how it's made to how it's used, to make it as sustainable as possible.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) believes that millions of early deaths from outdoor air pollution could be prevented each year. Harmful emissions like black carbon (a tiny particle) cause breathing problems and cancer, and also contribute to climate change. By choosing low carbon transport, we can reduce these emissions, help fight climate change, and improve public health with cleaner air. This idea is also called "green mobility."

Transport also has social costs. These include accidents, air pollution, and not being active enough. People might spend a lot of time commuting, which takes away from family time. Also, rising fuel prices can be a problem for many. Often, those who don't own cars or can't afford them are hit hardest by these issues. Traffic congestion wastes time and slows down deliveries, costing money.

Traditional transport planning often focuses only on making it easier for cars to move. But the real goal of transport is to help people get to work, school, shops, and see friends and family. There are ways to improve access while also reducing environmental and social problems, and managing traffic. Cities that are successfully making their transport networks more sustainable are also becoming more lively, livable, and sustainable places for everyone.

What is Sustainable Transport?

An electric car in Helsinki, Finland

The idea of sustainable transport grew from the larger concept of sustainable development. It means planning and using ways of travel that fit with the overall goal of keeping our planet healthy for the future. You might also hear it called sustainable transportation or sustainable mobility.

One definition, from the European Union, says a sustainable transport system should:

Help people, businesses, and society get where they need to go safely. It should also protect human and ecosystem health, and be fair for everyone, now and in the future.
Be affordable, work well, and give people choices in how they travel. It should also support a strong economy and balanced growth in different regions.
Keep pollution and waste within what the Earth can handle. It should use renewable resources at a rate that allows them to grow back. For resources that can't be renewed, it should use them slowly, while finding new renewable options. It also aims to reduce the impact on land use and noise.

Being sustainable isn't just about how efficient a vehicle is or how much it pollutes while running. It also includes a life-cycle assessment. This means looking at the environmental impact from when a vehicle is made, through its use, and even after it's no longer used. Thinking about a "cradle-to-cradle design" is more important than just focusing on one thing, like how much energy a car uses.

Why is Sustainable Transport Good?

Sustainable transport brings many good things to our communities and economies. It helps local areas grow in a sustainable way.

Reports from the Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP) show that sustainable transport can:

Create new jobs.
Make travel safer for everyone, especially with new bike lanes and walking paths.
Make it easier and cheaper to get to jobs and social events.
Save people time and money.
Help governments save money too.

Investing in sustainable transport is a "win-win" situation because it benefits so many people and areas.

How Transport Affects Our Environment

The bus rapid transit in Metz uses a diesel-electric hybrid system.

Electric Transmetro in Guatemala City

Transport systems are a big source of greenhouse gases. In 2004, they caused 23% of the world's energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, with most of that coming from road vehicles. By 2011, about one-third of all greenhouse gases were from transport. Today, 95% of the energy used for transport comes from petroleum.

Energy is used not only when vehicles are driven but also when they are made. It's also used to build roads, bridges, and railways. Motorized transport releases exhaust fumes with tiny particles that are bad for our health and contribute to climate change.

We can reduce the environmental impacts of transport by making vehicles lighter. Driving in ways that save fuel also helps. Using electric and hybrid vehicles is a great step. Improving places for walking and cycling in cities, and using public transport more, especially electric trains, also makes a big difference.

For example, a study in 2006 found that making an area 5% more walkable led to many benefits. These included a 6.5% drop in miles driven by cars and a reduction in harmful air pollutants.

Green vehicles are designed to be better for the environment than regular cars. However, it's important to look at their full life-cycle assessment, from production to disposal, to truly understand their impact.

Electric vehicles (EVs) greatly reduce CO₂ emissions compared to gasoline cars. How much they reduce depends on how the vehicle is made and where its electricity comes from. Even in countries that use a lot of coal for electricity, like China and India, EVs still have much lower greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime. For instance, a Nissan Leaf in the UK in 2019 produced one-third of the greenhouse gases of an average gasoline car.

Even in countries where electricity comes largely from coal, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have lower lifetime greenhouse gas emissions.

Battery electric vehicles have lower lifetime emissions than other vehicle types.

The Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV), developed in South Korea, can charge while moving or stopped. This means it doesn't need to stop at a charging station. Some buses in Gumi, South Korea, use this technology on a 24 km route. Hybrid vehicles, which combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor for better fuel use, are already common.

Natural gas is also used as a transport fuel. However, it is still a fossil fuel and produces significant emissions, though less than gasoline.

Brazil used bioethanol for 17% of its transport fuel in 2007. Newer generations of biofuels (2nd to 4th generation) are much better for the environment. They do not cause deforestation or compete with food production.

The most sustainable transport choices are walking and cycling. Other options with very low environmental impact include human-powered vehicles and animal powered transport. Public transport networks, especially electric trains and buses, are also very efficient. Transport on rails is known for its excellent efficiency.

Transport and Our Communities

A tram in Melbourne, Australia

Cities that built too many roads for cars sometimes faced unexpected problems. Public transport, walking, and cycling decreased a lot. Streets became empty of people. Shops, schools, and libraries moved away from city centers. People who stayed in the city often found their public spaces and services were not as good. When schools closed, larger schools in outer areas created even more traffic.

Another problem was an increase in inactive lifestyles. This led to more health issues like obesity and higher healthcare costs.

Car-based transport systems can also make it hard for people in low-income areas to find jobs. Many families might feel forced to own cars they can't afford just to keep their jobs. This is sometimes called forced car ownership.

These problems affect different people and places unevenly, creating a "transport divide."

Encouraging Sustainable Transport in Developing Countries

In countries like Uganda, researchers have looked at what might make people choose bicycles instead of motorcycle taxis. They found that a person's age, gender, and ability to cycle are key factors. Improving transport systems to make cycling feel safer was also seen as a very important change to encourage more bicycle use.

How Transport Shapes Our Cities

Futurama, an exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair, showed a vision of the City of Tomorrow.

Cities are often shaped by how people travel. In his book The City in History, Lewis Mumford showed how early cities were built around walkable centers, often near water. Suburbs were reached by animal transport or later by trains or trams.

In 1939, the New York World's Fair displayed a model city built for cars. This vision showed separate areas for homes, businesses, and factories, with tall buildings over a network of highways. These ideas became popular and influenced city planning from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Interstate 10 and Interstate 45 near downtown Houston, Texas

After World War II, more cars led to big changes in cities. Some people, like Jane Jacobs, worried about what was being lost. She wrote about how communities tried to stop these changes. Lewis Mumford asked, "Is the city for cars or for people?" Despite these concerns, car ownership and use kept growing.

In Europe, transport planning was different. It never assumed that private cars were the only or best way to get around cities. For example, the Netherlands aimed to limit the growth of car traffic. Some cities outside Europe, like Curitiba, Brazil, Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Canada, also linked transport to sustainability and city design.

Greenhouse gas emissions from transport vary widely, even for cities of similar wealth.

There are big differences in how much energy cities use for transport. An average person in a U.S. city uses 24 times more energy for private transport than someone in a Chinese city. They use almost four times more than someone in a European city. These differences are linked to how much people walk, cycle, and use public transport, as well as how dense and well-designed a city is.

A bypass in the Old Town in Szczecin, Poland

Cities and countries that invested heavily in car-based transport are now less environmentally sustainable. This is measured by how much fossil fuel they use per person. The social and economic benefits of car-based transport have also been questioned. In the United States, people in sprawling cities drive more often and for longer distances. People in traditional city neighborhoods make similar numbers of trips but travel shorter distances and walk, cycle, or use transit more.

New York City residents save $19 billion each year by owning fewer cars and driving less than the average American. Carsharing is another way to reduce car ownership. One shared car can replace about 15 owned vehicles. Car sharing is also growing in developing countries to help reduce pollution and traffic.

A chart showing how people travel in 794 cities.

The European Commission created an Action Plan on urban mobility in 2009 to promote sustainable urban travel. Cities are vital for growth and jobs, with 72% of Europeans living in urban areas in 2007. They need good transport systems to support their economies and people. Cities face the challenge of making transport sustainable for the environment (reducing CO₂, air pollution, noise) and for competitiveness (reducing congestion). They also need to address social needs, like health, population changes, and helping people with reduced mobility, families, and children.

The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a group of 94 cities working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. They also aim to improve the health and well-being of city residents. In October 2019, 35 mayors signed the C40 Clean Air Cities Declaration. They agreed that clean air is a human right and committed to working together for cleaner air globally. Studies using satellite data show that cities with subway systems produce much less greenhouse gas.

Bogota, Colombia, has a great example of sustainable transport with its TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

Bus Rapid Transit in Bogota Colombia

This BRT, started in 2000, quickly became a global model for high-capacity public transport. It can carry between 43,000 and 48,000 passengers per hour on its busiest parts. The buses use special lanes to avoid traffic. People pay before entering the station, which speeds up boarding. The system uses large, connected buses.

Bogota also has one of the world's largest cycling networks, with over 560 kilometers of dedicated bike lanes. They also encourage non-motorized travel with events like Ciclovia, where streets are closed to cars for people to walk and bike.

Rules and Government Actions

Seven sustainable transportations in one photo (Prague)

Carbon emissions per passenger

In the United Kingdom

In 2008, the UK Government passed the Climate Change Act. This law aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. In 2019, the Act was changed to require a 100% reduction in emissions by 2050, aiming for a net zero target.

In 2021, the UK Department for Transport released its "Decarbonising Transport" plan. This plan explains how the UK transport sector will become carbon-free by 2050. It focuses on encouraging walking and public transport, making road transport cleaner, improving freight transport, promoting new ideas, finding local solutions, and decarbonizing aviation and shipping.

The Institute for Public Policy Research stated in 2021 that car use in the UK needs to decrease. They said that active transport (like walking and cycling) and public transport should be used more. The Department for Transport responded by committing £2 billion to active transport and making railways greener. Studies in the UK have shown that switching from air travel to rail could reduce CO₂ emissions by sixty times.

In Germany

Some Western countries are making transport more sustainable. For example, Freiburg, Germany, has greatly improved its public transport, cycling, and walking options. It also has large areas where cars are not allowed.

In the United States

Many Western countries rely heavily on cars. In the United States, about 80% of travel is by car, making automobiles a major source of greenhouse gases. The government has plans to reduce car trips and emissions. These plans include:

Improving public transport with wider coverage and more reliable services.
Encouraging walking and biking with wider paths, bike-share stations, and slower traffic in city centers.
Increasing the cost of car ownership and gas through higher parking fees and tolls. This encourages people to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The extra money from taxes and tolls can be used to improve public transport and help communities in need.

In France

In March 2022, a new advertising rule started in France. All car advertisements must include one of three messages promoting sustainable transport. This applies to all vehicles, even electric ones. By 2028, it will also be against the law to advertise vehicles that emit more than 128 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

City-Level Actions

Sustainable transport policies have the biggest impact in cities.

Some large cities in Western Europe have very sustainable transport systems. In Paris, 53% of trips are by walking, 3% by bicycle, 34% by public transport, and only 10% by car. In Amsterdam, 28% of trips are by walking, 31% by bicycle, 18% by public transport, and only 23% by car. In Copenhagen, 62% of people bike to school or work.

Outside Western Europe, cities like Curitiba, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; Portland, Oregon; and Vancouver, Canada have also focused on sustainable transport and city planning. The state of Victoria, Australia, passed a law in 2010 requiring transport agencies to consider sustainability, including climate change, in their plans.

Many other cities worldwide are connecting sustainability with transport policies. Some are even trying to become car-free cities, limiting or banning cars.

Oil price trend, 1939–2007

Vehicle-miles traveled in the United States up to March 2009.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led several cities to greatly increase biking and walking options. These included Milan, London, Brighton, and Dublin. These changes helped people keep social distancing by avoiding public transport. They also prevented more traffic congestion and air pollution from increased car use. New York City and Paris adopted similar plans. The pandemic also caused financial challenges for public transport operators, potentially reducing funds for greener transport systems.

Community Efforts

Sustainable transport is a movement that started with local groups and is now recognized globally.

It began with environmental concerns, but now also focuses on fairness for everyone. This includes making sure people with lower incomes and those with mobility challenges, like older citizens, have good access to transport. Many people who face the most vehicle noise, pollution, and safety risks are those who don't own cars or find car ownership a financial burden.

An organization called Greenxc started a campaign in the United States in 2011. It encouraged people to carpool by sharing rides across the country. Carpooling reduces each person's carbon footprint because fewer cars are on the road.

A study by Prospect Sierra Students showed how changing how students travel could lower a school's carbon emissions by 15.5%. They found that many drivers lived close enough to walk or carpool.

Today, some companies are trying to use sailing ships again for commercial purposes. For example, Fairtrannsport and New Dawn Traders created the Sail Cargo Alliance.

The European Investment Bank invested €314 million between 2018 and 2022 in green marine transport. This funded new ships and updated old ones with eco-friendly technology to save energy and reduce pollution. The bank also provided about €11 billion each year from 2012 to 2022 for sustainable transport and climate-friendly projects. In 2022, railway projects received about 32% of transport loans, and urban mobility received about 37%.

Latest Trends

The global number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has grown steadily since the 2010s.

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) show a trend away from gasoline-powered vehicles.

Overall greenhouse gas emissions from transport

Car travel grew steadily throughout the 20th century. However, since 2000, trends have been more complex. Rising oil prices from 2003 led to less fuel being used per person for private car travel in the US, Britain, and Australia. In 2008, global oil use dropped by 0.8%, with big decreases in North America, Western Europe, and parts of Asia.

Other reasons for less driving, especially in America, include older generations driving less and younger people preferring other ways to travel, like public transit. The Great Recession and the rise of technology (internet, mobile devices) also made travel less necessary or appealing.

Greenwashing

The term green transport is sometimes used in marketing to make products seem environmentally friendly when they might not be. This is called greenwashing. Such claims can be legally challenged. For example, the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman has targeted car makers who claimed their cars were "green" or "clean." These companies faced fines if they didn't remove those words. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) says "green" claims can be too vague and mislead consumers. In 2008, the ACCC made a car retailer stop its "green" marketing for Saab cars because it was found to be misleading.

New Ideas in Transport

Many technologies are being developed to make transport more sustainable and digital.

Innovation growth in the transportation sector between 2018 and 2023

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that transport causes over one-third of global CO₂ emissions. This drives the development of new technologies to reduce transport's environmental impact. These include electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, self-driving systems, smart mobility platforms, and energy-efficient infrastructure.

The number of patents in future transport technologies has grown a lot, from about 11,000 in 2000 to almost 120,000 in 2020. This shows where researchers and companies are investing their efforts.

Sustainable propulsion is key to reducing transport's environmental footprint. Research and patents focus on batteries, efficient aircraft turbines, efficient ship design, electric propulsion, hydrogen/fuel cells, and sustainable fuels.

Automation and circularity aim to make production more efficient, reduce waste, and encourage recycling.

Communication and security technologies create safer, more connected transport systems that respond to changing conditions. This includes innovations like lidar sensors, 5G networks, connected vehicles, smart city infrastructure, and smart ports.

Sustainable propulsion and communication and security technologies have seen the biggest increase in patent publications between 2000 and 2023. Sustainable propulsion is the most patented technology in land and sea transport. Communication and security make up over 85% of patents in space transport.

Share of firms in the EU and the US taking action on climate by including sustainable transport options.

Tools and Ways to Encourage Sustainable Transport

Greenhouse gas emissions per person by country in 2000

Several European countries offer financial help to support more sustainable ways of transport. The European Cyclists' Federation has a list of these. In the UK, employers have long given employees financial incentives. Employees can lease or borrow a bike that their employer bought. This helps employees save money and get exercise. Employers benefit from tax deductions, fewer sick days, and less need for car parking.

Since 2010, Iceland has had a program called Samgöngugreiðslur. People who don't drive to work get a monthly payment. An employee must agree not to use a car for work more than one day a week. Some employers pay fixed amounts based on trust. Others pay for bike repairs or public transport tickets. Since 2013, amounts up to ISK 8000 per month have been tax-free. Many workplaces offer this, and many employees use it. Since 2019, half the amount is tax-free if the employee agrees not to use a car for work more than 40% of the time.

Possible Actions for City Transport

The EU Directorate-General for Transport and Energy (DG-TREN) has a program focused on city transport. Its main actions include:

Clean fuels and vehicles
- Animal-powered transport
- Biodiesel
- Biogas/CNG
- Electric vehicles
- Human-powered transport
- Hybrid vehicles
- Hydrogen vehicle
- LPG
- Sailing ships
Sustainable (green) transport infrastructure
- Bikeways
- Busways
- Greenways and foreshoreways
- Railways
Limiting access
- Managing access and rules
- Car-restricted zones / living streets
- Areas with multiple uses
- Parking management
- Pedestrian zones
- Traffic calming / reducing speed
Smart pricing strategies
- Congestion pricing (charging to drive in busy areas)
- Integrated ticketing (one ticket for different types of transport)
- Parking management
Public passenger transport
- Accessible transport systems
- Bus rapid transit
- Bus services
- Demand responsive transport (on-demand services)
- Integrated ticketing
- Easy transfers between different transport types
- Marketing (promoting public transport)
- Paratransit (special transport for those who need it)
- Park & Ride (parking outside the city and taking public transport)
- Public transport
- Good quality service
- Rail transport
- Security, including transit police
Travel information
- Public transport route planners (to plan journeys using different transport types)
Less car-focused lifestyle
- Bike sharing
  - List of bicycle-sharing systems
- Car pooling
- Car sharing
- Ways to reduce car ownership
- Cycling
Soft measures
- Travel blending (combining trips)
- Travel plans
- Personalized travel plans
- Walking school bus (groups of children walking to school with adults)
Sustainable freight transport
- Clean vehicles / clean fleets
- Dry ports (inland terminals for cargo)
- Fleet management (managing a group of vehicles)
- Intermodal freight transport (using different transport types for cargo)
- Route planning
- Transportation management systems

A Look at Transport History

Many ideas and tools for sustainable transport existed long before the term was invented. Walking, the very first way to travel, is also the most sustainable. Public buses started with Blaise Pascal in 1662. The first passenger tram began in 1807, and the first passenger rail service in 1825. Pedal bicycles appeared in the 1860s. For most people in Western countries before World War II, these were the only personal transport options. They remain the main options for many in developing countries. Goods were moved by people, animals, or trains.

The Rise of Cars

After World War II, people became wealthier and wanted to travel more. The number of road vehicles in Britain grew five times between 1950 and 1979, and similar trends happened in other Western nations. Most rich countries and cities built many new roads and highways, believing they were essential for growth. Transport planning became part of Urban Planning. Public investment in transit, walking, and cycling dropped a lot in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia. This was not as extreme in Canada or mainland Europe.

Concerns about this car-focused approach grew during the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis. High fuel costs and limited availability made people more interested in other ways to travel.

New transport ideas from this time included special lanes for cars with many passengers, citywide carpool systems, and ways to manage transport demand. Singapore was the first country to use congestion pricing in 1975. Curitiba started its Bus Rapid Transit system in the early 1980s.

Lower and stable oil prices in the 1980s and 1990s led to a big increase in car travel. People drove more often and for longer distances. Cities also grew with suburban housing far from shops and workplaces, a pattern called urban sprawl. Freight transport also grew faster than general vehicle traffic, with more goods moving by road instead of rail or ship.

At the same time, experts began to question the idea of just building more roads to meet demand. Peter Newman showed in his studies that cities with better public transport systems were more sustainable.

The British Government's White Paper on Transport marked a change in direction for transport planning in the UK. Prime Minister Tony Blair stated that "We recognise that we cannot simply build our way out of the problems we face. It would be environmentally irresponsible – and would not work."

A document called "Smarter Choices" looked at how to expand small sustainable transport projects across Britain. It concluded that using these methods widely could reduce car travel in cities during busy times by over 20%.

A similar study by the United States Federal Highway Administration in 2004 also found that actively managing transport demand was an important part of national transport strategy.