What has the overall impact of Covid-19 been on sustainable travel behaviour? And what are the implications of more flexible/hybrid working and reduced commuting patterns; how can this work best for part-time commuters?

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:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects

  • Providing insights into multi-day traveller behaviour to inform sustainable transport policies and practices

    A good understanding of traveller behaviour underpins all policies which are effective in influencing travel behaviour to reduce congestion, increase activity levels, improve air quality and/or reduce carbon emissions. I...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of the West of England

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on understanding travel behavior and its impact on congestion, air quality, and carbon emissions, which aligns with the question about the overall impact of Covid-19 on sustainable travel behavior.

  • Breathing Cities: A Living Model of People and Place

    The vision for this project is in the name: Breathing Cities. "_The Covid-19 lockdown has led to cleaner air but will do little to address the issue of air pollution in the long run_ \[and\] _world leaders now have ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SLINGSHOT SIMULATIONS LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to help city councils develop resilience to the influx of traffic and people returning to work after Covid-19, but does not directly address the overall impact of Covid-19 on sustainable travel behavior.

  • Commute 2 Net Zero

    "Commute2NetZero" (C2NZ) will revolutionise scope 3 category 7 (commute and telecommuting) emissions reduction strategies for East Lothian Council and employers in East Lothian. C2NZ will enhance the existing d...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: DAVID SMITH CONSULTING LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically addresses the impact of Covid-19 on sustainable travel behavior and provides strategies for reducing commute emissions.

  • SANDPIT - Disruption: the raw material for low carbon change

    Evidence suggests that we will need to change our travel habits and practices radically if we are to reduce the carbon emissions from transport to meet government and international targets. Technological developments suc...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project explores travel practices and the potential for disruptions to lead to more permanent carbon-reducing changes, which partially addresses the question about the overall impact of Covid-19 on sustainable travel behavior.

  • Air quality benefits from multi-year changes in post-pandemic working and travel patterns

    Air quality is significantly affected by levels of economic activity and wider patterns of industrial and domestic consumption. Whilst lower air pollution was frequently reported as a short-term consequence of lockdown, ...

    Funded by: COVID

    Lead research organisation: University of York

  • Life Transitions and Travel Behaviour

    The aim of the project is to assess how life transitions influence travel behaviour and to identify opportunities from this for policy interventions to achieve desirable transport outcomes. Life transitions (major change...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of the West of England

  • 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

    Lead research organisation: University of Cambridge

  • 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

    Lead research organisation: University of Cambridge

  • GoGreen - Getting Staff There The Green Way

    **GoGreen - Feasibility Study of User-Network Optimisation to Minimize Carbon Emissions** The aim of Phase 1 is to assess the technical feasibility and commercial potential of "GoGreen", a personalised travel a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: YOU. SMART. THING. LIMITED

  • Sandpit: Transport Behaviours Network.

    This Network extends the December 2010, UK Research Councils Ideas Factory "Transport Grand Challenge: Travel behaviour, habits and practice". The Ideas Factory drew attention to the significant contribution th...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Edinburgh

Similar ARIs from other organisations

Global prosperity, development and climate change (guiding research) How can the pathways to decarbonisation of transport be evaluated against the UK’s international climate ambitions? Department for International Trade, 2020
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Climate and biodiversity How will public attitudes be affected? Are individuals, cities or communities motivated by the drop in emission levels resulting from reduced travel? Are they more or less fearful of ambitious decision making to protect the climate? What opportunities does this present the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, 2020
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