23 Jun 2020
Arriva blog: To reach net zero by 2050, the time to act is now
Jens Boe Jacobsen, Business Development Director at Arriva Denmark
For years, leading scientists, politicians, and organisations have voiced concerns over the consequences of climate change and the need for proper action to be taken to counter the threats. Many countries in Europe have acknowledged the risks and proposed ambitious action plans over the last few years - plans which slowly but surely have been set in motion.
Now that all of Europe is facing yet another threat - the COVID-19 pandemic - there is a risk that the actions against climate change are deprioritised while we are focused on combatting the health and financial repercussions of the virus.
My call to action is simple: Let’s strike while the iron is still hot. Cities around the globe have turned to tactical city planning to boost the number of cyclists and decrease the need for the use of cars, taking back parking spaces to promote outdoor space and greening our cities, all the while ensuring that public transport is still safe to use. The list goes on.
It is undeniable that mass transit solutions are key to green, sustainable, and livable cities. This is not a futuristic ambition that we should reach by 2050, but a fact that we see every day in many European cities. Bikes and bike paths are making our neighborhoods more people centered. When we make public transport more attractive - with faster, more frequent and more convenient services - we increase its use and improve the wellbeing of citizens too.
So, while our health authorities and workers heroically fight the virus, our transport authorities and city planners should go back to the drawing board and remember all the learnings that we have made in the last century. We have become too dependent on private car use. It is now, while many people still work from home, that more investment should be put into public transport. This includes greener solutions, improving convenience and making it easier to integrate with other modes, including shared-car services, cycling and walking.
It is now that we build the future that we will reach in 10, 20, and 30 years. Simply put, we are in the last investment cycle before we aim to achieve a completely carbon-neutral society by the year 2050, so there is no time to waste. While the decision to go green may be difficult, the solutions are simple, have been known for decades, and will be cost-efficient in the long run.
Contact information
Phil Curry
Senior Communications Manager
Arriva Group press office
+44 (0)7825 342 976
curryp@arriva.co.uk
