--- title: The Road to Zero Carbon url: "https://www.systra.com/uk/webinars-podcasts/the-road-to-zero-carbon/" type: page date_published: 2021-04-16 date_modified: 2025-11-17 schema: @type: WebPage language: en-GB word_count: 1263 reading_time: 7 min canonical: "https://www.systra.com/uk/webinars-podcasts/the-road-to-zero-carbon/" featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/the-road-to-zero-carbon-via-cop26.jpg" --- # The Road to Zero Carbon ![The Road to Zero Carbon](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/the-road-to-zero-carbon-via-cop26.jpg) **Roughly a third of the UK’S Carbon emissions currently comes from transport and have only reduced by 2% since 1990. The overall climate change gas emissions in the UK have dropped by 39% over this period.** With around two thirds of District, County, Unitary & Metropolitan Councils having declared a Climate Emergency to date, reducing transport emissions to achieve Net Zero Carbon is a rising priority for many authorities in the UK and SYSTRA can assist in achieving these aims. ![climate](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/04/climate-1024x566.jpg) - Expert Insights Duncan IRONS ### Carbon, Climate – What’s the Emergency? [ Read more ](https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/carbon-climate-whats-the-emergency/) ![motorway sunset](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/meet-cop27-climate-goals-with-road-user-charging-1024x678.jpg) - Expert Insights ### Meet COP27 Climate Goals with Road User Charging [ Read more ](https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/meet-climate-goals-with-road-user-charging/) ### CLIMATE EMERGENCY – HOW CAN SYSTRA ASSIST SYSTRA have over 50 years’ experience in the transport planning industry in the UK and abroad, this expertise will assist clients to achieve their Climate Emergency goals ![net-zero-transport-decarbonisation-systra](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/net-zero-transport-decarbonisation-systra-1024x645.jpg) _services Transport Decarbonisation Read more sur Transport Decarbonisation_ ![carbon-modelling-header](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/carbon-modelling-header-1024x645.jpg) _services Carbon Modelling for Transport Read more sur Carbon Modelling for Transport_ ![climate-change-adaptation-website-header](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/climate-change-adaptation-website-header-1024x645.jpg) _services Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience Read more sur Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience_ ### revisit our WEBINARS fROM COP26 SYSTRA developed a series of five monthly Webinars in the run up to Cop 26 covering the Climate Emergency and the route to Net Zero. The sixth and final webinar took place on Thursday 21st April 2022, and reflected on the impact of COP26, asking “The road to zero carbon post COP26 – where do we go next?” #### The road to zero carbon post COP26 ![teams-2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/teams-2-1024x645.png) _video Carbon, Climate – What’s the Emergency? The Road to Zero Carbon via COP26 Webinar Series – April 2021 Read more_ More than 120 days after COP 26, local authorities – and the the transport sector in general – are carefully analysing Government signals about how the road to zero carbon is being followed. Local and regional council strategy could have direct impact on one-third of local emissions through levers over housing, transport and the natural environment, but many are wondering if the funding and political will to take forward such policies exists. This webinar explores what the next steps to net zero should be: - This webinar explores what the next steps to net zero should be: - learning from post-pandemic travel demand changes – what is the real role of transport planning today? - is there a case for making major shifts in funding and priority from the roads programme to active travel, public transport, and sustainable planning? - how much do place-based approaches really matter? - _making net zero fair: considering mobility, safety, health and economic inequalities_ #### THE FUTURE OF RURAL MOBILITY ![teams-2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/teams-2-1024x645.png) _video The future of rural mobility October 2021 Read more_ The summer of 2021 has been awash with reports about transport decarbonisation, and most have highlighted the scale of the challenge for rural areas in particular. More than half the country’s population lives in small towns, rural areas, or suburban fringes. The economics of transport in rural areas is very different from urban settings, and most accept that a one-size-fits-all approach to decarbonising transport will not achieve the desired outcomes. The webinar will explore: - Is the Government’s Road to Zero industrial strategy / transport decarbonisation plan urban-centric? - Electrification outside of urban areas - What are the possible outcomes for the rural community when it comes to transport decarbonisation options? - MaaS, mobility hubs, shared transport and on demand / DRT services - Funding and business models for rural public transport - _Supporting active travel_ #### TRANSPORT DECARBONISATION PLAN: A BEGINNING, NOT AN END. SO WHAT’S NEXT? ![teams-2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/teams-2-1024x645.png) _video Transport Decarbonisation Plan: a beginning, not an end. So what’s next? August 2021 Read more_ What does the TDP really say about car use and car ownership, and is road building going to really be necessary in that context? How much of the transport carbon budget do local authorities have control over, and what do they need from the proposed ‘toolkit’? Can we achieve carbon reduction from passenger transport if the costs of electrified motoring are going down? How are we going to level up costs between cars and public transport? How can we get the transport sector to account – with transparency – for its wider carbon footprint? #### BEHAVIOUR CHANGE ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO: CARROTS AND STICKS ![teams-2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/teams-2-1024x645.png) _video Behaviour change on the road to Net Zero: carrots and sticks June 2021 Read more_ Social change is critical to rapid decarbonisation, but can there really be a one-size-fits-all approach? How can we ensure that innovation in decarbonised transport is ready for all kinds of places – city and rural – and for different lifestyles, age groups and varying demographics? - Understanding the true cost of transport: we spend huge sums on transport and travel, so how can these monies be targeted at net zero and healthy, safe and active travel? - Exploring the private car and its role in all our futures - Insights into how people wish to, and are able to, practice transport decarbonisation - Whether there is a case to introduce some form of national road pricing scheme – and if so, what kind of scheme or schemes? - The technology possibilities and challenges of introducing such scheme - _The sorts of policy objectives that will get public support_ #### PLANNING FOR 15 MINUTE CENTRES ![teams-2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/teams-2-1024x645.png) _video Planning for 15 minute centres, land use, connectivity and accessibility May 2021 Read more_ People need access, not transport – and that means access to educational, economic, social and cultural opportunities. When designing neighbourhoods, the aspiration should be for everyone to live within a short walk, cycle or scoot of such amenities and all basic facilities, for example significant green space and a transport hub for onward connections, when and if required. For decades, planning has been about mobility: helping people get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. It’s been about ‘how far you can go’ in a given amount of time, rather than ‘how much you can get to’ in that time. #### CARBON, CLIMATE – WHAT’S THE EMERGENCY? ![teams-2](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/teams-2-1024x645.png) _video Carbon, Climate – What’s the Emergency? The Road to Zero Carbon via COP26 Webinar Series – April 2021 Read more_ The first event took place on Thursday 15th April it introduced the Climate Emergency agenda covering: - What’s the issue and what do the guidelines say. - Approaches and barriers to achieving NET zero. - A panel discussion answering your Frequently Asked Questions including - Will the pandemic behavioural change help with achieving NET Zero Carbon? - Does Offsetting work? - Are electric vehicle the panacea to solve transport emissions? - Are Biodiversity and Climate change emergencies related? - How much can we change as individuals, organisations and local authorities?