In June’s webinar we took a close look at the latest report from the Climate Council, Shifting Gear: The path to cleaner transport. This report shows that for Australia to deeply reduce harmful emissions this decade, we need to fundamentally change the way Australians get around. We need a transport system that prioritises moving people, not cars.
We heard from the lead author of the report as well as a fantastic transport campaign from the Coordinator of the Sustainable Cities Collective.
Background:
Climate Council of Australia
Transport is Australia’s second largest source of national emissions after energy, with 62% of transport emissions coming from cars, vans and utes. Personal transport (the way that people move around) is one of the fastest growing sources of emissions. Decarbonising personal transport is not just about switching every petrol and diesel car for an EV, it is about transforming movement and enabling mode shift. Mode shift is about switching from one mode of transport (fossil fuelled private cars) to another (public and active transport). This webinar will explore what degree of mode shift is needed for rapid emissions reduction this decade, what will help bring about this shift, and explore some local councils already on their way.
Sustainable Cities Collective, Friends of the Earth
The Better Buses campaign run by the Sustainable Cities Collective, is the only public transport campaign of its scale in Australia.
The campaign’s central objectives are to achieve transport equity with Public Transport as the best way to lower emissions whilst ensuring accessibility for all.
During the course of the campaign which has been running since mid 2021, Sustainable Cities have been working in solidarity with councils in Melbourne’s West who are advocating for the needs of their residents. Mayors, councillors and other council staff have actively supported and endorsed Sustainable Cities work, and are advocating to the government to invest in the Better Buses campaign. This includes:
- an electrification of the bus network to zero emissions buses,
- as well as a reform of the network that will allow for service improvements,
- and will encourage mode shift in a population who currently do not trust their outdated bus network.
The Better Buses campaign demonstrates how transport equity is a matter of social, economic, racial and climate justice, and that there is an urgent need for governments to invest in public transport infrastructure in Australia in order to reduce car dependence and in turn reduce carbon emissions.
Speakers
Hollie Cheung, Researcher, Climate Council of Australia
Hollie is a researcher at the Climate Council and author of the latest transport report Shifting Gear: The path to Cleaner Transport. Her other research has investigated climate-related financial risk for banks and levers to transform decision making. Hollie is passionate about social and climate justice, and creating a more equitable world for people and the planet. At the Climate Council, Hollie’s research focuses on clean transport and shifting our system toward public and active travel, alongside electric vehicles.
Elyse Cunningham, Sustainable Cities Collective Coordinator, Friends of the Earth
As the Coordinator of the Sustainable Cities Collective, Elyse is currently running the Better Buses campaign in Victoria. She has been organising with communities in Melbourne’s Western suburbs, who are facing the highest level of transport disadvantage as a result of the broken bus network, to advocate for their needs when it comes to public transport and enhancement of social equity. She is a passionate climate activist with an interest in how global systems of oppression show up at the local level and in our everyday lives.
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