Take your photos now, London\u2019s iconic red double-decker buses are going green. Luckily not literally. Transport for London (TfL), the government body responsible for transportation in Greater London, is investing heavily in reducing the environmental impact of its operations and encouraging Londoners to rely on sustainable methods of transport. Are their efforts sufficient to meet the Mayor\u2019s target and reduce London\u2019s carbon dioxide emission by 60% of their 1990 level by 2025 [1]?<\/p>\n
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Transport and climate change<\/strong><\/p>\n Transport accounts for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions globally [2]. The World Bank recommends comprehensive approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emission from transport focusing on:<\/p>\n While TfL has limited influence on urban design, its investments combine the second two recommended approaches.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Investing in greener operations<\/strong><\/p>\n TfL is attempting to use the most energy-efficient technology for as many of its trips as possible with significant investments both in its bus and underground networks.<\/p>\n The first diesel-electric hybrid bus was introduced in London in 2006. Since then, about a quarter of London\u2019s bus fleet has been replaced by hybrid options. These hybrid buses reduce carbon dioxide emission by approximately 30% compared to conventional buses [4]. An even more efficient alternative is a hydrogen fuel cell powered bus, which only emits water. TfL is currently experimenting with a small fleet of eight single-decker versions of these. Broader adoption may be limited as the majority of London\u2019s bus routes operate double-deckers. To drive a material reduction in carbon dioxide emission across the bus network, the transition to hybrid buses should be accelerated in the years leading up to 2025.<\/p>\n Green buses are a great start, but by no means sufficient in a city where roughly 40% percent of journeys are taken by the underground [5]. Last year, TfL introduced two new initiatives to reduce emissions in the tube network as well. Regenerative braking technology recycles energy from train brakes to power stations. A 2015 trial showed enough energy can be saved to operate even larger underground stations for two days per week \u2013 saving about 25% of electricity used at the station [6]. A separate initiative will revamp the Greenwich Power Station into a low carbon power generator for the underground network [7]. As opportunities to change the trains themselves on the underground network are limited due to physical constraints, TfL focuses on reducing the energy consumption of its underground stations. The widespread implementation of these initiatives could bring significant benefits in the long run.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Promoting sustainable transport choices <\/strong><\/p>\n The second pillar of TfL\u2019s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions relies on encouraging Londoners to switch to sustainable transport options.<\/p>\n London introduced the biggest congestion charge theme in any major city in 2003, charging \u00a35 then, \u00a311.50 now daily for cars entering Central London between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. Though it faced resistance initially, traffic levels decreased by about 10% since the introduction of the congestion charge [8]. In fact, car ownership started to slowly decrease in the capital after 2003 [9].<\/p>\n In more recent years, the focus shifted to developing London\u2019s bicycle routes. The East-West and North-South cycle superhighways are visibly busy with commuters during rush hours. These routes reserved for cyclists provide safer and faster options to cross the city. The latest statistics suggest a 5% increase in cycling journeys to about 23 million a year [10]. The constant roadworks improving the cycle road network have increased journey times in the city for those travelling by car. This may convince further travelers to take public transport \u2013 especially the underground \u2013 instead of driving.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Enough progress against the target? <\/strong><\/p>\n The investments of TfL reduce the environmental impact of its operations and successfully encourage Londoners to rely on the public transport network. They have also sparked discussions about sustainability in the city. The biggest challenge ahead of TfL is scaling these green initiatives. Assuming the same conversion rate from conventional to hybrid buses, about half of London\u2019s bus fleet will be low emission by 2025. This would translate to a 15% reduction in emission across the bus network only. Implementing the regenerative braking program for all underground stations will take years and will lead to a 25% emission reduction in total. Even if these initiatives were implemented much faster, TfL would need another set of innovative solutions to meet the 60% emission reduction target by 2025.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Word count: 748<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1] \u201cClimate change and weather, Mayor of London<\/em>, https:\/\/www.london.gov.uk\/WHAT-WE-DO\/environment\/climate-change-weather-and-water\/climate-change-and-weather<\/a>, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [2] Rebecca M. Henderson, Sophus A. Reinert, Polina Dekhtyar, Amram Migdal, \u201cClimate Change in 2016: Implications for Business\u201d, p 14, HBS Case N2-317-032<\/p>\n [3] \u201cUrban Transport and Climate Change\u201d, The World Bank<\/em>, 14 Aug 2012,\u00a0 http:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/news\/feature\/2012\/08\/14\/urban-transport-and-climate-change<\/a>, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [4] \u201cHybrid bus boost for London\u201d, Transport for London<\/em> website<\/em>, 9 Oct 2015, https:\/\/tfl.gov.uk\/info-for\/media\/news-articles\/hybrid-bus-boost-for-london<\/a>, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [5] \u201cTransport for London Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 2015\/16\u201d, http:\/\/content.tfl.gov.uk\/tfl-annual-report-2015-16.pdf, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [6] Katie Sadler, \u201cRecycled energy from Tube train brakes to power Underground stations\u201d, Eurotransport Magazine<\/em>, 25 Sep 2015, http:\/\/www.eurotransportmagazine.com\/17150\/news\/industry-news\/recycled-energy-from-tube-train-brakes-to-power-underground-stations\/, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [7] \u201cLow carbon plans announced for Greenwich power station\u201d, BBC<\/em>, 8 Jan 2015, \u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-england-london-30724691<\/a> , accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [8] Claire Timms, \u201cHas London\u2019s congestion charge worked?\u201d, BBC<\/em>, 15 Feb 2013, \u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-england-london-21451245<\/a>, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [9] \u201cRoads Taskforce – Technical Note 12: How many cars are there in London and who owns them?\u201d, Transport for London<\/em>, http:\/\/content.tfl.gov.uk\/technical-note-12-how-many-cars-are-there-in-london.pdf<\/a>, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n [10] \u201cNumber of cyclists in London reaches record high\u201d, BBC<\/em>, 4 Jun 2015, \u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk-england-london-33002701<\/a>, accessed 3 Nov 2016<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo credit:<\/p>\n\n