Complete Carbon Impact of Long-Distance Travel Exposed

The University of Leeds has revealed the genuine climate impact of long-distance passenger travel in recent research.

Although trips over 50 miles (one way) account for less than 3% of all travel by UK residents, they contribute 70% of all passenger travel-related carbon emissions. This disparity is even more pronounced with international travel, which comprises only 0.4% of total trips but accounts for 55% of emissions.

The new research, published today in Nature Energy, indicates that focusing on long-distance travel could be a more effective strategy for reducing emissions compared to current efforts targeting local and commuter travel.

Over the past 25 years, while the number of short and long domestic car journeys has slightly decreased, international air travel has surged, primarily due to increased leisure and family visits.

Dr. Zia Wadud, leading the research at the University’s Institute for Transport Studies and School of Chemical and Process Engineering, emphasized, “The impact of long-distance travel is notably significant. The fact that under 3% of our trips account for roughly 60% of the miles traveled and 70% of emissions highlights the critical role long-distance travel plays in addressing climate change. Despite the growth in long-distance trips, especially flights, there are opportunities for improvement.”

Using a newly developed metric called emission reduction sensitivity, the researchers identified which travel changes could maximize carbon emission reductions while minimizing the impact on the number of trips or people.

Greater Potential from Reducing Long-Distance Travel

The study revealed that shifting all car journeys under eight miles to walking or cycling could cut emissions by 9.3%, but this would require changing about 55% of all journeys, as most are local and car-based. This change yields an emission reduction sensitivity of 0.17, the lowest in the study.

Conversely, converting all flights under 1,000 miles to rail would achieve a 5.6% reduction in emissions, affecting only 0.17% of journeys, with a sensitivity value of 33.2. Limiting each person to one annual international round-trip flight would have the highest sensitivity value of 158.3, impacting a minimal number of journeys.

The researchers clarified that these suggestions aim to raise awareness and prompt reevaluation of the impact of long-distance travel, rather than serve as specific policy recommendations.

Dr. Muhammad Adeel, a co-author now with the Centre for Transport and Society at the University of the West of England, added, “While promoting sustainable local travel is beneficial, the omission of aviation emissions from national statistics—common in nearly all countries—means we overlook a substantial portion of the problem.”

A Call to Reevaluate the Carbon Impact of Our Travel

The researchers aim for their findings to prompt policymakers to reexamine how efforts are allocated when addressing travel’s environmental impact.

Data for the study was sourced from the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey and the Office for National Statistics’ International Passenger Survey.

The research also provides the public with insights into how behavioral changes in travel can affect carbon emissions.

Dr. Wadud emphasized, “Both at the policy and individual levels, it’s crucial to prioritize the relatively fewer long-distance trips—especially flights—to achieve the most significant emission reductions.”

Read the original article on: Phys Org

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