Understanding how transport choices are affected by the environment and health: views expressed in a study on the use of carbon calculators.

Authors:
Address: Air Quality Management Resource Centre, Institute for Sustainability, Health and Environment, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. aqmrc@uwe.ac.uk
Journal:

Publication:

abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the influence that the provision of environmental information might be able to make on personal travel behaviour through analysis of the views of members of the public expressed in a study for the UK Department for transport on attitudes towards carbon calculator tools.

STUDY DESIGN:

A three-stage qualitative survey taking an ideographic approach to analysing public attitudes to the use of carbon calculator tools in relation to making transport decisions.

METHODS:

Interviews and discussion groups with stakeholders, non-users and users providing extensive data that were analysed using the British Market Research Bureau's matrix mapping methodology.

RESULTS:

Despite considerable awareness of climate change as an issue, personal carbon emissions were not found to have much influence on personal transport choice, which could be seen as being dominated by issues of cost (both in time and money), comfort and convenience.

CONCLUSIONS:

The spatial and temporal dislocation of the cause and effects of climate change make it difficult to link the impacts of personal travel behaviour with specific activities. If environmental- and health-based information is to be provided as a lever to change travel behaviour, it may be necessary to provide information on issues such as local air pollution and personal health impacts in order to link wider benefits with a travel user's self-interest.

Related Articles
Review Energy and transport.
Lancet. 2007
Review Energy and transport.
Woodcock J, Banister D, Edwards P, Prentice AM, Roberts I. Lancet. 2007 Sep 22; 370(9592):1078-88.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Driven by the Transportation of Goods Associated with French Consumption.
Environ Sci Technol. 2010
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Driven by the Transportation of Goods Associated with French Consumption.
Hawkins TR, Dente SM. Environ Sci Technol. 2010 Nov 15; 44(22):8656-64.
A vehicle-specific power approach to speed- and facility-specific emissions estimates for diesel transit buses.
Environ Sci Technol. 2008
A vehicle-specific power approach to speed- and facility-specific emissions estimates for diesel transit buses.
Zhai H, Frey HC, Rouphail NM. Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Nov 1; 42(21):7985-91.
A knowledge, attitude and practices study of the issues of climate change/variability impacts and public health in Trinidad and Tobago, and St Kitts and Nevis.
West Indian Med J. 2007
A knowledge, attitude and practices study of the issues of climate change/variability impacts and public health in Trinidad and Tobago, and St Kitts and Nevis.
Rawlins SC, Chen A, Rawlins JM, Chadee DD, Legall G. West Indian Med J. 2007 Mar; 56(2):115-21.
Review Active travel: a climate change mitigation strategy with co-benefits for health.
N S W Public Health Bull. 2009
Review Active travel: a climate change mitigation strategy with co-benefits for health.
Rissel CE. N S W Public Health Bull. 2009 Jan-Feb; 20(1-2):10-3.

To top • Home

TraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.