climate

C02mmuting

It's not something we usually think about, it's just part of daily life. We get up in the morning and go to work, taking the children to school or child-minders along the way. But what is the impact of these journeys on the environment, for our children in the future and when we grow old.

Every journey we take, either to and from work, or on business, results in the release of carbon dioxide, the main gas that is causing the climate to change. Transport is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions and also has more localised negative impacts such as congestion, noise and poor air quality.

The daily commute to work or school results in the significant release of greenhouse gases. But the different types of transport that are used to commute produce differing levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Walking or cycling clearly have the lowest impact on the environment, with taking the train or bus the next best in reducing emissions.

An average commuter travels seven miles to work every day, taking about 20 minutes. The table below shows how much CO2 is produced using different types of transport, in travelling an average seven mile journey:

Want to calculate your Carbon Emissions?

Why not find out for yourself how much CO2 emissions your daily commute produces? Log onto the internet and visit www.transportdirect.info, where you can also find out about bus and train times. Email climate.change@hullcc.gov.uk or visit our web site at www.hullcc.gov.uk and click on Environment.

Got a question about climate change? Email climate.change@hullcc.gov.uk or visit our web site at www.hullcc.gov.uk and click on Environment.