Led by CIHT South West. This web-based workshop will include discussions around the emerging challenges to the Future of Transport.
The event is held on Zoom.
The future of transportation presents many challenges.
It is widely accepted that the transport sector is the single largest contributor to carbon emissions both nationally and regionally, accounting for around 28% of all carbon emissions. Whilst other sectors, in particular energy, have seen dramatic reductions in carbon emissions over the past ten years, transportation emissions have flat-lined and even recently shown increases. With the need to meet Net-Zero by 2050 in England, and with many South West authorities having set earlier target dates, how does transport need to change in the South West?
In 2020, the global coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the use of transport systems across the region. How have these changes affected future plans for the region? Has messaging around public transport and the subsequent reduction in patronage and revenues affected the region’s transport plans and effectiveness to address future transport challenges?
Even if the international community can meet the Paris climate agreement and limit temperature increases to 1.5 degrees, the impact on the South West may still be great. The Somerset Levels, severely flooded in 2014, could permanently be underwater with key transport infrastructure – including the M5 and the railway submerged. How does infrastructure in the South West need to change to address this?
The implications for the region’s ports, freight, the impact of Brexit are all likely to impact on transport in the region.
This event will have a short introduction from the CIHT South West events , immediate past Chair, and Devon Net-Zero Task Force member Nik Bowyer. However, the main focus of this is workshop breakout sessions allowing attendees to discuss and provide their views on the future of transport in the South West. We will use Zoom to break attendees into separate discussion rooms. These sessions will be recorded and the thoughts and discussion points will be written up into a brief report to be circulated following the event. This may then form the basis of a subsequent, detailed event in 2021 that will focus on key issues raised.
The event is aimed at all transportation professionals. Whilst the discussion will be focused on the South West of England, many of the issues and topics that are likely to be discussed will be of national or even international importance (e.g. Climate change, Covid-19, Net-Zero) and thus attendees need not be constrained to those who are based in, or have an interest in, the South West region..
All transportation professionals, ranging from engineers to planners, from modellers to operators will benefit from attending. The event will be accessible to all, and is an opportunity for all views to be put forward.
For more information about roles and how to get involved, please contact southwest@ciht.org.uk with any questions.
Got a question?
t: +44 (0)20 7336 1555
e: info@ciht.org.uk