As the harrowing reality of climate change grips firmly on the conscience of society, many are taking proactive measures to reduce their carbon emissions, to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has made recommendations in an independent report that suggests policy interventions that can be implemented to make real change. The report is aimed at surface transport, aviation, heating and changing ones diet.
The CCC appointed Dr. Richard Carmichael from Imperial College London to help understand the potential for people to make decisions that will essentially help reduce carbon emissions and the implications these will have on policies.
The report is titled ‘Behaviour Change, Public Engagement And Net Zero.’ It is aimed at the UK population, where 15% of people are responsible for 70% of flights.
An interesting recommendation is that air mile schemes should be stopped. This is to discourage excessive flying. An “escalating air miles levy” should be implemented, according to the report, to further discourage excessive flying.
The report outlines that income earned should be reinvested into low-carbon aviation technology. The report says that “High impact shifts in consumer behaviours” are necessary for the UK’s goal of reaching net-zero emission by 2050.
Domestic travel recommendations include dramatically reducing the price of intercity rail services and to reopen disused rail lines. This will in-turn reduce the demand for cars and planes.
The United Kingdom is the fist major economy to legally commit to being carbon neutral by 2050.
Read the full report here.
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