How sustainable transport is critical for Ireland’s climate action

We should not understate the scale of the challenge to deliver on the ambitious CAP 23 targets, requiring a major intervention in the way we all live our lives (from reducing school runs, to enabling more carpooling and teleworking), as well as demanding changes to how our goods and services are delivered around the country to reduce freight kilometres on the road network.

Making CAP 23 a success – early views

• Delivering the systematic change to move away from car reliance will place Ireland on the right path for the 2030 target and will be fundamental to achieving the even more ambitious net zero 2050 target. Doing this in an equitable, inclusive manner will be a challenge but active engagement with the public around the need for this change and how this is done will be key. Such change though will need to be consistently implemented in policy and require cross-government policy implementation. More stringently implemented transport led planning development would imply a reduced number of one-off housing applications, for example.
• Communication: Government is clearly aware of the importance of communicating the actions already taking place (and those which need to take place) to develop a decarbonised transport system. Getting buy-in from the public to projects and programmes that impact on how they (and their children) will live, travel and work going forward is key, as are the planned communication campaigns to effect behavioural change and motivate the public to travel more sustainably. It’s important to recognise that the impact on people in rural locations will be distinct to those in urban city and commuter belt environments, all requiring a tailored communications approach sensitive to different cohorts’ environments and respective transport options.
• Collaboration between the public and private sectors is vital to develop the capability to deliver new or novel project types, in particular active travel and public realm projects where some local authorities’ capabilities are more advanced than others; and larger mega projects such as MetroLink that require unique expertise and capability. Collaboration in ensuring the integration of mobility options, for example through joined-up transport planning, technology apps, etc., will also be key with connection and accessibility at the core of public transport services and other mobility solutions – something a number of public authorities are already very much focused on.
• Full alignment across stakeholder groups involved in the delivery of public transport projects is needed for timely project delivery and for benefits to be realised. Large public transport projects in the Dublin commuter system (MetroLink, DART+, LUAS lines and BusConnects plans) will transform how people move around the capital. BusConnects in the other regional cities will create similar incentives for change, as will LUAS in Cork. Other public transport projects such as Connecting Ireland and higher-frequency connects between regions will further incentivise change. These projects require large amounts of collaboration to ensure they are delivered on time without planning issues and the benefits of decongestion, reduced travel times, etc. fully realised.
• Given the ambition, in particular regarding 130% increase in public transport journeys by 2030, plans around future public transport infrastructure investment need to be reviewed to ensure that planned investment matches that ambition. The ability to increase the capacity of certain routes/ services may be constrained in the short term. Flexible options will need to be considered that meet the targets, still delivering value for money. For example, further EV fleet investment ramp-up may need to be considered in light of plans around Connecting Ireland/ rural public transport.
• What comes next? CAP 23 points to the development of a more sustainable transport system which considers the reduced need and roadspace for cars going forward with potential demand management measures like parking restrictions/ charge increases, congestion charging and road charging being considered. As we approach 2025 and 2030 - now not so far away - and targets come under the spotlight, the requirement for such measures will grow. Without behavioural changes, motorists (particularly in urban locations) are going to find themselves in increasing congestion and out of pocket – implying the need for behavioural change now.

Point of reckoning: The Irish public³ has indicated it strongly supports policies which aim to tackle climate change. However, CAP 23 calls for a more fundamental shift in how people live and how much they travel in Ireland going forward. There needs to be point of reckoning when individuals en masse make material and consistent changes in how they travel.

This change has started with many people now walking or cycling (combined up from 15.5% of all trips in 2019 to 19% of all trips in 2021⁴) and public transport usage now approaching pre-pandemic levels;  however, sustainable transport needs to be more widely adopted by the public. Whilst the Government needs to do its part in ensuring the required sustainable transport options are there, there’s also a responsibility on the public as individuals acting collectively. In early 2023 and this time of resolutions and fresh thinking, it’s a time for us all to consider how we can change our habits and transport ourselves more sustainably.