This year’s Young Professional Conference aims to attract three hundred Young Professionals from across the whole supply chain - public sector, consultant, contractor and academia. Day 2 of the conference saw a range of speakers presenting their knowledge of climate change and sustainability.
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The day started off with Emma Ward, Director General for Roads, Places and Environment Group at the Department for Transport, discussing the action that Government is taking to meet decarbonisation targets for transport. A range of initiatives were discussed, but most notably that Electric Vehicles cannot be relied on alone and that other sustainable transport modes such as walking and cycling are a key pillar in achieving net zero for transport.
Following this, the CIHT’s Chief Executive, Sue Percy, discussed the climate change emergency and the very real implications it has not just for the highways and transportation sector – but for everyone. Echoing the points made by Emma Ward, Sue said how now is the time for radical change and we must do everything, quickly and at scale. Sue made clear of the CIHT’s position on the climate emergency, and how it is reflected in the CIHT’s work such as in the Better planning, better transport, better places publication.
Heading towards the afternoon Louise Coward, Head of Insight, Transport Focus outlined the research she has been involved in around travel behaviour in the pandemic and how it has changed: with the public indicating that cleanliness is more important on transport now than ever and public transport operators will need to accommodate flexibility in their ticketing.
Professor Noreen McDonald, Chair - City & Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina and Justin Ward, Head of Policy & Technical Practice at CIHT held a stimulating conversation on the future transport agenda in the US. Electric vehicles are taking centre stage there, with the Biden administration looking for them to make up 50% of new car sales by 2030. However, the pandemic has highlighted to US citizens and Governments the need for increased uptake in other sustainable modes and reallocation of road space.
Following on Dr Benjamin Silverstone, University of Warwick highlighted the need to fill the skills gap in the electrification of the transport network and that the Industrial digitalisation and Industry 4.0 revolution represents the largest shift in industrial skills for the UK in a generation. Therefore, Dr Silverstone outlined how this skill gap was being plugged in education.
Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh, Director of Centre for Climate Change & Social Transformations at the University of Bath discussed the role of people in decarbonising transport and how behaviour change is needed, but that humans are creatures of habit.
Professor Jim Hall, Trustee for Carbon and Climate, ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers), addressed greenhouse gas emissions by sector and the plummeting cost of solar and wind energy.
Finishing off the day was Anna Delvecchio, Development Director of Transportation at Mott MacDonald UK and Europe who discussed their organisations campaign around making highways a sector of choice.
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is the collective voice of CIHT’s young professionals, made up of representatives from all of our Regions and Nations.
The network is developing a vibrant and diverse community of learning, which reflects the talent and skills of transportation professionals who are shaping and influencing the future of the sector.
To be involved and find out more, click here.
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