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Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo

Sep 13, 2024

Public transportation’s role in reducing carbon emissions

Imagine having a hard day at work, then on your way home you get caught in heavy traffic. Suddenly, it starts to rain really hard. Heavier traffic. More rain. There’s no telling when you will arrive home, and you’re already calculating how much time you have left for rest before another day begins. Who knows if the next day would be a repeat of today, or even worse?


This scenario is a reality for many of us living and working in cities. We may feel helpless in such situations, but something can be done to improve traffic and lessen the unpredictability of weather, which is one of the consequences of a warming world.

 

GHG emissions


According to the UN’s synthesis report on the technical dialogue of the first Global Stocktake, transportation contributes about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions. In order to curb this, we need to phase out internal combustion engines and promote the use of electric vehicles. A shift to public transportation will be beneficial for both our communities and the environment. 


The World Resources Institute (WRI) said, buses and trains can reduce GHG emissions by up to two-thirds per passenger, per kilometer compared to private vehicles. But in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change, global public transport capacity must double by 2030.


The WRI suggest cities to start building more infrastructure faster and take greater steps to boost ridership, which has yet to recover from Covid-driven declines in many places.

 

Predictability of public transport 


In the United Kingdom, you can even receive a refund for delayed trains. A delay of more than 15 minutes may be eligible for a refund if it is due to circumstances within the train company’s control. 


Such efficient public transport systems contribute to improving the productivity and enhancing the quality of life of citizens. 


Unfortunately, here in the Philippines, carbon emissions from land transportation is on the rise. Moreover, we also need to work on the predictability of our public transport systems.


According to the World Bank, the number of vehicles per capita in the Philippines will grow fivefold between year 2020 and 2025, from 114.7 per 1,000 people to 672.9 vehicles per 1,000 people, due to economic and population growth along with rapid urbanization.


Moreover, as the public transportation system in the country remains undeveloped, vehicle ownership will likely increase. Most of these are motorcycles and tricycles which, among land-based vehicles, contribute the most to emissions at 21.2 percent in 2020.


In promoting public transportation among citizens, we must highlight one of its important features—predictability. 


In most developed countries, buses and trains have scheduled arrivals on each stop. This has been further improved through the use of technology, such as mobile apps that allow you to monitor schedules real-time.


The World Bank adds that if the current motorization trend continues, GHG emissions from land transport would more than quadruple from 25 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2020 to 147 MtCO2e by 2050, growing at an average annual rate of 5.39 percent.

 

Improving public transportation 


The way forward is to fast track the development of our public transportation system, especially in urban areas.


One good example is the EDSA Carousel, the integrated busway system that serves the commuting public along the major thoroughfare of EDSA. The dedicated bus lane has improved mobility for commuters, even the predictability of travel time. It will be beneficial for the commuting public and the overall traffic situation in the metro if this can be continuously enhanced and expanded. 


Moreover, improvements in our railway system, such as the MRT-3, and major projects like the Metro Manila Subway Project and the North–South Commuter Railway would most definitely benefit the commuting public and improve the overall situation of mass transportation, particularly in the metropolis and surrounding areas.


We must do more. We need to shift to sustainable urban planning to reduce emissions from cities. How do we improve mass transportation? How do we shift to electronic vehicles that would rely on renewable energy sources? How do we enhance the overall mobility in the metropolis?


We need to invest in efficient, affordable, eco-friendly public transportation, complemented by cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, so that more citizens will patronize them and rely less on private motor vehicles. This way, we can all contribute to combating climate change and we can all expect better quality of life. 

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