Public Transport Essential to Addressing Climate Change
Countries across the world are in agreement that we need to take action to help keep The Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree maximum climate increase target achievable.
Public transport is essential to addressing climate change and also the effect of pollution on our health. The recent State of Climate Action Report found that the world needs to reduce use of private vehicles by up to 14% by 2030. Public transport along with cycling and walking is a climate solution in its own right, encouraging more people to make the most of these modes of transport in the next few years will be a determining factor in achieving the climate goal.
Currently the cost of public transport means there is no real cash incentive for someone living outside the city of Chichester to travel this way – a return bus fare from Bognor into Chichester is roughly the same as parking your car in one of the car parks. This means that congestion around the city in the mornings is at a high.
Bus companies can’t be blamed as they are not only having to contend with a fall in passenger numbers but also the cost of fuel crisis. They need some support to deliver more sustainable fares.
It is important that national and regional policy makers for any town, city or community look at the following environmental opportunities:
- Prioritise space for public transport and EV charging
- Connect transport hubs with public scooters or public bikes with an integrated fare system
- Consider Park & Ride schemes using electric buses
- Ensure funding for schemes over urban roads
I would certainly like to see the above initiatives implemented in Chichester over the coming years to help the fight against global warming and ensure we have a healthy, clean environment to encourage people to live and work in the city centre for years to come.
By Jeremy Brown, Chichester BID Board Member and Property Director, Brasserie Bar Co