10 Point Plan: 04 Use sustainable forms of transportation

4. Use sustainable forms of transportation

Climates are shifting, storms are on the rise, both in number and in intensity, and glaciers are melting. These stark changes in our sensitive global climate are mainly caused by so-called greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases are in our atmosphere and prevent the heat caused by sunlight entering the atmosphere and reaching the Earth’s surface from escaping back into space. Anyone who has ever left their car in the sun and then wanted to get in knows what an enormous effect trapped heat can have. And apropos cars, these greenhouse gases in our atmosphere do not arise by chance. They are mainly caused by the burning of coal, gas and oil. These imported fossil energy sources are consumed every day by combustion engines on land, on water and in the air. In addition to animal husbandry and rice cultivation, these fuels are the worst climate offenders and cause a significant proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to greenhouse gases, it is above all the emission of nitrogen oxides that should worry us. Nitrogen oxides lead to respiratory problems, especially in people with asthma or bronchial diseases. They also harm the ecosystem by affecting the growth of plants. So, it is time for alternatives.

1. Alternatives to Automobiles

Public transportation
Public transportation is a great alternative to cars, as they redistribute the total energy consumption to many more people, thus keeping the environmental impact of fuel consumption much lower. In the age of the smartphone, it has become very easy to find your way around in unfamiliar places. Probably the most popular app for this is Google Maps, which can be downloaded to your smartphone for free from the App Store. This app also keeps you updated about changes on the go as long as you have an internet connection. Alternatively, maps can also be found on PCs and laptops and you can choose your route beforehand. Call up https://www.google.com/maps and enter your start and destination. If you click on the small train icon, you will see all public transportation available between your start and destination. Google Maps does not claim to be absolutely complete, but it has the decisive advantage of combining bus, train, jogging and bicycle routes, whether you are traveling in Berlin or Singapore. You can also enter your desired start time, select your preferred means of transport, and also be aware of wheelchair-accessible routes. If public transport is not available to you due to poor transport connections in your region, it will be worth looking at the sections "Carsharing" and "Carpooling" (below).

Bicycles & E-Bikes
Around half of city car journeys are less than five kilometers long. If 30 percent of car journeys in cities under six kilometers were made by bicycle instead, the German Ministry of Transport estimates that 7.5 million tons of CO2 could be saved per year. So, leave the car home and mount up.
Cycling also has many other advantages. This is how cycling helps you lose weight: it boosts fat burning and trains endurance without straining the musculoskeletal system, as it is easy on your joints. Cycling is therefore especially good for overweight people who want to take off some extra pounds. But cycling is also healthy for everyone else because it strengthens the cardiovascular system, breaks down stress hormones, provides the brain with more oxygen and can also be a lot of fun.
If just the thought of riding up the hill at your own doorstep causes you to break into a cold sweat, an e-bike might be a good alternative. E-bikes are the cheapest option for e-mobility and entry-level models are now available for as little as €200. With these bikes, various obstacles such as headwinds in the lowlands, inclines, most hills or even long distances can be easily overcome. Thanks to the electric motor, the hill or headwind feels as if you are riding downhill, and thus offers a great "green" alternative to your car – even for confirmed couch potatoes. It is no wonder that e-bikes are becoming more and more popular. They are incredibly fun, and you feel sporty and dynamic and don’t have to put a lot of effort into it. This fun factor may also be the reason why, according to studies, e-bikers are three times more likely to ride bicycles than regular cyclists.

On foot
Not only Forrest Gump can achieve great success by walking. Walking has many advantages for each and every person. As with cycling, walking activates your heart and circulatory system. In addition, studies show that people who walk a lot have better blood circulation and can thus better deal with stress, sleep more comfortably, and at the same time, also stimulate the production of happiness hormones. Leaving the car at home and walking to the baker, your friend’s or other short distances not only protects the environment but also brings great personal benefits and better health.

Carsharing
Carsharing offers all the advantages of car usage and avoids some of the disadvantages. The basic principle is that several people share a car and only use it when they actually need it. In this way, a shared car keeps a larger number of private cars off the road. This usage model not only helps to conserve resources and energy but is often cheaper for users than owning a car. In addition to classic carsharing, the use of neighborhood cars is on the rise. In this model, the use of a car is extended to neighbors and friends with rental contracts or through online placement offers for private car rental.

Carpooling
Carpooling is becoming more and more popular. In this model, several people share a car to get from A to B. This not only reduces your own travel costs and CO2 emissions per capita but also helps you get to know many nice people. Several carpooling websites list many offers for carpooling. Many of them are particularly popular for longer distance travel.
For those who are worried about dubious strangers, it will be worth looking at a driver’s assessment before you book a ride. Drivers with many positive reviews, verifications, photos and lots of driving experience are the safest choice here.

Your Task:

The Experiment:
Join in and be a part of the climate protection movement! Leave your car home for at least 1 day this week. Think about the daily routes and paths you can take on foot, by bike or with public transport this week.
With Google Maps or on the website goeuro.de you can enter your start location and destination and find the most cost-effective alternative to using your car – whether by bus, by train or by sharing a ride.

Just one Tip:
In Germany, for example, there is an annual “Mobile without a Car Day” on the 3rd Sunday in June followed by the Car-Free School Day on the Tuesday after that.
Look for similar events in your area – and join in!

2. Fly less often

A flight from Germany to Spain, for example, is just as harmful to the environment as driving a car for a whole year. In addition, the effects on climate change at high altitudes are about 2.7 times worse than on the ground, because when flying, kerosene is burned, creating hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The water vapor forms into the condensation trails, which, like carbon dioxide, reflect heat back to the earth. [Source: https://wirelesslife.de/nachhaltig-reisen-fliegen/]

And flying is becoming more and more popular! The annual increase in air traffic of around 5% means that even an increase in the fuel efficiency of aircraft of 2% per year cannot reduce the greenhouse effect.

By 2050, the tourism industry is expected to be responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions. It does not matter whether long-haul or short-haul flights are involved, as the largest amount of CO2 is produced during take-off and landing, which is why short-haul flights produce more CO2 per kilometer.

Other negative effects of flying include aircraft noise and air pollution. Especially during departure and approach, aircraft noise rises, which affects both our health and the animal world. The use of land by airports and the associated relocation of resident people and the destruction of animal habitats are additional effects. But that is not all. Jet lag caused by flights through different time zones can accelerate aging and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, according to the latest studies. In addition, exposure to germs and radiation increases the risk of vein thrombosis.

Not flying seems to be the most obvious solution here. If you love to travel to distant countries and are reluctant to give this up or are a business traveler, you can travel more selectively and conscientiously to limit damage to the environment and your health.

Your Task:

• Use the "Carbon Offset" - Whenever this is available. This is an amount of money that is based on flight emissions that is paid when booking a flight and then used for climate protection projects in countries where little has been done so far for environmental protection.
• Use digital meetings - Business flights for meetings on site may be replaced by video conferencing.
• Use public transportation - Domestic flights may be replaced by rail journeys.
• Avoid unnecessary travel - Instead of regular shuttle flights, you can stay in one place for a longer period.
• Longer holiday time - For travelers, it makes sense to take a long holiday instead of making two shorter trips. As a rule of thumb: for flights over 1,400 km, a stay of 14 days is a good ratio.