Exploring the health benefits of net-zero transport
The Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub (HLTH) will lead research into the health benefits of low-carbon transport, with a focus on co-creating effective solutions.
The new hub will evaluate the health impacts of net zero, working with civic and industry partners to find out the barriers, incentives and accelerants to healthy low-carbon transport schemes.
It’ll propose and evaluate new solutions to maximise health benefits and reduce health inequalities associated with low-carbon transport plans.
As well as understanding the potential health benefits of low-carbon transport, HLTH aims to find out the best and quickest ways to implement schemes, including influencing policy and industry practice.
Its ultimate aim is to build a net-zero transport sector that delivers the greatest possible health, social, environmental and economic value.
Professor Phill Wheat, Deputy Director of the Institute for Transport Studies and project co-lead, said:
“Currently there is a lack of evidence to assess, quantify and value the impact on our health, good or bad, resulting from transport decarbonisation measures.
“Drawing on case studies and input from the public, policy and practitioner audiences, a key focus will be to evaluate existing interventions and make recommendations for the design of future transport decarbonisation schemes.”
Decarbonising transport
The transport sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, so the UK must focus on it in the transition to net zero.
For a healthy and just transition, the nation must include the physical and mental health impacts of the transition in its plans. They haven’t previously been embedded, as seen in the scheme to replace petrol with diesel cars in the UK, which led to poorer air quality and health outcomes.
Another example of low-carbon travel being promoted without full consideration of its health implications is with electric vehicles. Due to their weight, they have increased particulate emissions from their tyres and have more severe consequences from road traffic accidents.
The health benefits of some forms of low-carbon transport, such as increased physical activity and cleaner air, are well documented. Mental health and wellbeing benefits are possible but less clearly evidenced.
However, some attempts to promote healthy forms of transport have met with mixed success; for example, cycle networks and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have been blocked or resisted.
The HLTH will consider all aspects of health related to net-zero transport, and co-create schemes with civic, industry, and third-sector partners to discover effective, healthy solutions.
William Powrie, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Southampton, and HLTH Project Lead said:
“We are delighted with the funding from the UKRI and NIHR that will enable us to establish the Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub.
“Our interdisciplinary research programme will deliver a multiple-outcome approach to the planning, implementation and assessment of low-carbon transport schemes, with full integration of health co-benefits and equity considerations.
“This is long overdue and will bring step-change improvements in both public health and progress towards a low-carbon future.”
Transdisciplinary research
The Hub is led by the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC).
It's made up of public health professionals, public engagement specialists, engineers, planners, geographers, social scientists, and transport and health economists at UKCRIC’s partner universities.
Its partners include the Department for Transport, Active Travel England, Birmingham, Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils, Sustrans, and Transport for West Midlands.
The HLTH is one of seven transdisciplinary research hubs across the UK that has received investment from The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said:
"This £42 million investment into net zero research hubs will bring together world-class researchers to boost public health and tackle inequalities. Through our Plan for Change, we will make the UK a clean energy superpower while improving health outcomes for everyone.”
This work is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Building a Green Future strategic theme, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [grant number MR/Z506382/1].
