Do people who switch to active travel see benefits in broader health and wellbeing? Can longitudinal research establish or disprove a connection between outcomes?
Background
The reducing environmental impacts strategic priority is in recognition that there is an environmental aspect to all transport, and therefore almost all the work of DfT. Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases in the UK, contributing 27% of domestic emissions in 2019. Our transport system must change to deliver the government’s Net Zero ambition and DfT will drive forwards that change through our longer-term green transport agenda. On decarbonisation specifically, we published our Transport decarbonisation plan (TDP) in July 2021, which sets out the steps we will take to deliver the necessary carbon reductions across every form of transport. Sustainability will be at the heart of levelling-up. People everywhere will feel the benefits – villages, towns, cities, and countryside will be cleaner, greener, healthier and more prosperous and pleasant environments in which to live and work
Next steps
Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Research fields
Related UKRI funded projects
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ICF: Healthy Low-Carbon Transport Hub (HLTH)
Accelerated transport decarbonisation is essential for the UK to meet CO2e emissions requirements. Measures adopted must maximise physical/mental health co-benefits, but this has not been the case historically. Replacing...
Funded by: MRC
Lead research organisation: University of Southampton
Why might this be relevant?
The project specifically focuses on the health co-benefits of transport decarbonisation measures, aligning with the question's emphasis on broader health and wellbeing benefits of active travel.
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MEthods and Tools for Assessing the Health Impacts of Transport: modelling study (METAHIT)
Globally and locally how people and goods move around is important for public health. Transport causes ill-health through road traffic injuries, noise, and air pollution, but is an opportunity for benefiting health throu...
Funded by: MRC
Why might this be relevant?
The project specifically focuses on the health impacts of active travel and provides evidence on the benefits of replacing car trips with cycling.
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Towards an Integrated Global Transport and Health Assessment Tool (TIGTHAT)
Globally, how people and goods move is important for urban health. Transport causes ill-health through road traffic injuries, noise, and air pollution, but is an opportunity for benefiting health through active travel. A...
Funded by: MRC
Why might this be relevant?
The project aims to create a model that can estimate the health impacts of active travel in different cities, including LMICs.