Monthly Sustainability News (September)

Hello!

I'm thrilled to share this month's edition of Sustainability in Action with you.

In September, we delve into sustainable mobility and how we can truly inspire a desire for car-free cities.

In an intentional effort to communicate inspiring and motivating sustainability messages, you’ll find a roundup of positive eco-news from around the world below. You can find out more about some of the latest sustainability reports, projects and news about climate action, biodiversity, sustainable mobility and the rise in renewables.

I value your feedback: let me know your thoughts and suggestions at [email protected] (or simply reply to this newsletter).

How do we make people really want car-free cities?

Cities around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the multifaceted benefits of having car-free zones, and creating more sustainable mobility options. Despite the climate mitigation, health, air quality, and noise benefits (to name just a few) of sustainable urban mobility and car-free zones, there is nonetheless a rise in car ownership, and an expansion of road infrastructure.

So how can people be encouraged to break ties with their beloved cars?

In some cities, walking or cycling may be too perilous, while others lack sufficient alternative transportation options.

It's crucial to acknowledge that each city has its own unique transport infrastructure, social and cultural circumstances, and barriers to embracing new mobility projects. To effectively plan locally relevant and adapted sustainable mobility solutions, we must provide people with transportation options that genuinely enhance their lives and meet their needs.

For instance, introducing cycle lanes that aren't safe enough to use will do little to persuade people to abandon their cars. Likewise, if individuals aren't involved in the planning of sustainable mobility initiatives in their cities, there may be less support for car-free zones or sustainable transportation projects.

Advantages of Car-Free Cities

There are numerous reasons why car-free cities and zones are advantageous.

From a health standpoint, polluted air contributes to 7 million premature deaths each year, and car accidents claim the lives of 1.3 million individuals annually.

Car-free cities can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change, and improve mental health by reducing noise pollution.

The Impact of Car-Free Streets on Urban Life

Designing cities with public health in mind could lead to car-free cities and a significant reduction in deaths caused by air pollution.

Furthermore, promoting walking and cycling would amplify the health benefits of car-free cities.

Lessons From European Cities Embracing Car-Free Initiatives

The acceptance and success of car-free experiments vary as cities explore this concept.

A study on European cities' responses to car-free experiments reveals that people's emotional attachment to places and their perception of quality of life play a significant role in their acceptance and utilisation of mobility interventions.

To effectively transition cities into more environmentally and socially friendly spaces through car-free zones, it is crucial to understand how people's attitudes and emotional connections to specific locations, as well as proposed mobility changes, influence their acceptance and use of sustainable transportation solutions.

This understanding will enable cities to make informed decisions when planning and implementing car-free interventions.

Car-Free Cities: From Brussels To London

Cities around the globe are embracing sustainable mobility and car-free zones, oftentimes with very positive results, albeit with some criticism.

The city of Brussels recently implemented its Good Move plan to enhance mobility, banning cars from certain central roads, pedestrianising streets, and restricting the use of specific roads for public transport.

Despite facing criticism and controversy, there’s been a 27% reduction in transit traffic and a 36% increase in the number of cyclists after just a year, in addition to improved air quality and reduced traffic noise.

In the UK, the city of London expanded its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to all London boroughs, as of August 29, to help reduce air pollution. To date, the ULEZ has already reduced nitrogen dioxide emissions by almost 50%, and the city estimates that over 1 million hospital admissions will be avoided by 2050.

Most Effective Strategies to Reduce Car Use

A recent study by Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies ranks the 12 most effective measures that European cities have implemented to go car-free. The results are fascinating.

1. Congestion charges: Making drivers pay to enter city centers proved to be the most effective measure overall.
2. Parking and traffic control: Removing parking spaces and altering traffic routes showed promising results.
3. Limited traffic zones: Excluding cars (except residents' cars) from certain areas helped reduce car use.

The Future of Car-Free Cities

Removing cars from cities can improve health and mobility, help mitigate climate change, and can create more liveable, sustainable cities.

Despite the benefits of removing cars from cities, many governments actually enable car use by providing fossil fuel subsidies and tax allowances for car use.

But cities and local governments around the world are taking action to create more liveable, and sustainable cities — and that includes creating more sustainable mobility options and car-free zones.

City governments have the power to limit car use by using a range of economic incentives and penalties. From introducing congestion charges, limiting free parking, and creating traffic-free zones — many cities are going car-free.

However, every city needs to create mobility solutions that are locally adapted and relevant, and that meet the particular needs of people living there. Experimenting with car-free days can be a first step for cities interested in exploring residents’ reactions to a future without cars.

Research has shown that any experiments to reduce car use should seek to understand people’s emotional attachment to places, and their perceptions of any interventions’ impact on their quality of life, when planning and implementing care-free initiatives. This may go a long way towards care-free interventions being accepted and utilised.

Positive eco-news from September

There is a lot to be positive about this month! Below are some of the happenings from around the world related to sustainable mobility, biodiversity, climate action, and renewables.

Superbatteries to transform performance of electric vehicles (EVS)

This is exciting news for anyone driving an electric vehicle (EV), or contemplating buying one: superbatteries are expected to transform the performance (and range) of electric vehicles.

One of the biggest drawbacks to driving an EV is the fact that its range is limited by the car’s battery storage capabilities.

Advanced “solid-state” superbatteries have been talked about for quite some time, as a solution to replace traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

After years of research and development, Toyota recently announced a technological breakthrough. They’ve developed a battery that can power vehicles for an impressive range of 1,200km (746 miles), before needing to be recharged. However, production is only expected to start in 2027.

The end of cheap airline tickets in France?

To try and reduce the carbon emissions from flying, France's Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune, is trying to introduce a minimum price for flights within the EU.

With many low-cost airlines operating in Europe, Beaune wants to ensure that the true environmental cost of flying is reflected in ticket prices.

This comes at a time when train travel is often more expensive than flying, despite being more environmentally sustainable in Europe.

To encourage the switch from plane to train travel, France also recently banned several short-distance domestic flight routes that could be replaced by train journeys. Watch this space to see whether other EU countries agree to France’s minimum flight price proposal.

Can landlords demand vegan tenants? Maybe in New York City!

New York is apparently home to some of the highest concentrations of vegans in the US. So it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise that a Brooklyn landlord tried to enforce a restriction on tenants to avoid cooking any meat products in the building, as part of the rental contract.

A vegan food retailer heard about this and generously offered to provide one month’s rent and a year’s supply of vegan food products to the tenant.

Whether or not landlords can legally include vegan restrictions on tenants may be for the courts, but it appears that in practice it may be possible (and if you’re lucky, even sponsored) in NYC.

New York City has also been actively supporting vegan diets. Its mayor, Eric Adams, announced that all NYC hospitals would provide plant-based foods and declared a meat-free holiday in March. Close to 2,000 schools in the city launched ‘vegan Fridays’ which are provided free to 930,000 children in public schools.

New York University to divest from fossil fuel investments

New York University, which has a $5bn endowment fund, has committed to avoid any direct investments in companies involved in the exploration or extraction of fossil fuels. This includes coal, oil and natural gas.

After years of student protests and campaigning to take action on climate change, the university is also taking other steps to reduce its climate impacts. It’s setting goals to reduce its food-related emissions and wants to be net zero by 2040.

It’s inspiring to see youth-led climate organisations, like the Sunrise Movement at NYU, having been successful in advocating for divesting in fossil fuels and charting a course towards the campus going net zero.

Drone tech goes as silent as a whisper

Drones have huge potential to provide more sustainable forms of delivery and can carry out a range of tasks, such as land surveying, at more affordable costs. But, one of the problems of using drones is the noise they emit. And in urban areas, noise pollution can have serious and long-term implications.

The folks at Whisper Aero have developed a new technology to make drones as silent as a whisper. Using a propulsion fan that can be fitted to a range of other UAVs, the company is also working to create quieter forms of everyday technologies like leaf blowers.

Electric two-wheelers powering mobility in Asia

Two-wheel scooters, motorbikes and three-wheeler tuk-tuks or rickshaws have been a common sight on the bustling roads of Asian cities for decades. But a new trend is taking over: electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

The electrification of scooters, motorcycles and auto-rickshaws is happening at a much faster pace compared with the uptake of electric cars. And the infrastructure needed to recharge these electric scooters and bikes is also being deployed rapidly.

Given the sheer number of people in Asia who own two-wheelers and three-wheelers, there is immense potential for a mass switch to e-bikes to improve air quality, alleviate noise pollution, and minimise greenhouse gas emissions.

Fossil fuels hit record low in EU energy mix

According to a new Ember report, the amount of fossil fuels from coal, oil and gas in the EU’s electricity mix has dropped to a record low. EU fossil fuel generation fell by 17% in the first half of 2023, with demand falling by 5% during the same timeframe.

While falling demand may have driven this collapse in fossil fuels in the EU, there has also been a rise in solar and wind energy generation. There’s been a 13% increase in solar generation and a 5% increase in wind generation this year, in comparison with the same period last year.

Notably, 17 European countries generated record levels of renewables in their energy mixes from January to June this year. Denmark and Portugal generated over 75% of their electricity from renewables, with Greece and Romania surpassing 50% for the first time.

Can wildlife-friendly roads save biodiversity?

In the US alone, over a million animals die as roadkill every day. Given that road infrastructure is expected to increase globally over the coming decades, the number of animals killed each year could soar even further.

Roadkill is not the only impact of sprawling networks of roads. Diverse species of animals are being prevented from migrating or finding mates and may struggle to search for food.

Environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb’s book, Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of our Planet, sheds light on this important issue and explains the concept of ‘road ecology’, as well as outlining various emerging wildlife-friendly solutions.

Simon Sinek on why climate change needs a rebrand

According to Simon Sinek, climate change needs a rebrand. He believes that climate change needs to be marketed in more of a positive light to inspire action rather than being framed around doom and shocking statistics.

As a thought leader, author, and environmentalist, Simon Sinek explains how messages that evoke feelings of fear and anxiety do little to get people motivated to act on climate change.

He also shows how messaging that is empathetic and that inspires optimism and hope, targeting shared values, may be more successful in catalysing global action on climate solutions.

For organisations, a key takeaway is the need to reframe the way that climate change is communicated. Speaking about climate solutions, positive local impacts of climate action, sharing personal stories about climate change, and showing the power of local collaborative action may be better at motivating people to take part in climate initiatives.

UK subsea renewable electricity superhighway project approved

Planning approval for a new subsea electricity superhighway between Scotland and England has been granted. The project is expected to be completed by 2029, which will then make the Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2), the longest high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable in the UK.

Running from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire to Drax in north Yorkshire, this subsea superhighway is expected to power two million homes using renewables, thereby helping the UK to reach its net zero targets.

Thank you for reading this month's edition of Sustainability in Action!

Remember, creating car-free cities is not just about reducing pollution and improving mobility; it's about creating more sustainable and liveable spaces for everyone. By embracing sustainable transportation options and supporting initiatives that prioritise pedestrian-friendly streets, cycling lanes, and public transit systems, we can make a significant impact on our environment and quality of life.

We hope you enjoyed reading this month's edition of Sustainability in Action. Stay tuned for more updates and insights in future newsletters. Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable world.

—?JB