In this episode, Daithí talks Sustainable Transport with Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transport in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, in Trinity College Dublin. Transport accounts for approximately one fifth of Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions, with the majority coming from road transport. Brian talks about the ambitious target to have 1 million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030. He also touches on how urban design and planning can have a huge impact on transport modes, through concepts like the 15-minute city. The important point that all groups don't have equal access to sustainable transport also comes up, through issues like the rural/urban divide in access to public transport, as well as the barriers preventing women and girls from adopting cycling. As always, the other improvements to our lives that improved transport policy and infrastructure could bring about are discussed, from better air quality to more secure employment!

Links

Brian’s Twitter: https://x.com/brian_caulfield             

Brian’s research profile: https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=caulfib                               

Economic cost of congestion in Dublin: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3fef5-the-economic-cost-of-congestion-in-the-greater-dublin-area-2022-2040/                               

1 million EV’s by 2030 target: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a6a2f-government-approves-electric-vehicle-policy-pathway-report/      

WHO guidelines on air quality breached in Ireland: https://www.epa.ie/news-releases/news-releases-2023/irelands-ambition-to-move-towards-the-health-based-who-air-quality-guidelines-will-be-challenging-but-will-have-a-significantly-positive-impact-on-health.php          

Electric Vehicle pilot on Inis Mór 2011: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/eight-families-go-electric-in-aran-islands-pilot-project-1.1277786