Question

How do you to determine sustainability in transportation system? describe three important elements of sustainability.

Answer 1

Any transportation system, bicycles to airliners, require energy to make them work.

Sustainable infers that the supply of energy can be obtained from sources that do not consume “fuels” that have a limited source, ie: nuclear, coal, oil, wood, food, etc. It also includes getting energy from otherwise waste by-products of civilization, such as garbage to power, but that too is a limited source.

So that leaves solar energy, primarily. Either direct solar-electric generation, or hydro-electric or wind or wave power, which are actually solar powered in origin.

So a pure electric vehicle that is charged by solar or hydro power exclusively is considered sustainable transportation. Charge that car by a gas, or nuclear generator it is not.

There are other sustainable sources, such as geo-thermal, but they are few and far between.

“Sustainable Transportation” is the concept that has a positive meaning for green growth. In a general sense of mitigation and adaptation of environmental pollution, energy may be excessively used within all modes of transportation such as land, air and water transport to support growth of cities without appropriate planning. As a result, increasing connectivity within transportation can support policy and planning for economic growth.

A sustainable transport system should meet 3 criteria of sustainable tool.

1. Economically: affordable system (users pay the cost)
2. Social: People should have equal access to it: reduce social exclusion. Especially in rural areas. System should catered for disabled people as well with low floor access etc.
3. Environmentally: Transport is the only sector in UK with rising Greenhouse gas emissions (around 25% of all emissions). There is a need to increase vehicle using sustainable or renewable sources and decouple from fossil fuels. Improving technology also help reduce emissions.