Change Your World - make a pledge for the planet

Thousands of people across the UK are about to make a pledge to change their world by changing the way they travel.

Sustrans' Change Your World campaign action week begins 29th June and thousands are expected to visit www.changeyourworld.org.uk and promise to swap just one car journey between then and 4 July in favour of walking, cycling, taking public transport, car-sharing or simply not making the trip at all!

If everyone in Britain made one less car journey every week it would reduce car travel by at least ten per cent, which would mean an annual saving of almost 7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide [note 1].

This would be a significant step towards achieving Britain's target to reduce emissions to at least 34 per cent below 1990 emissions by 2018-22, set by the Chancellor in April as part of the World's first carbon budget.

Malcolm Shepherd, Sustrans' Chief Executive, said:

'One person changing just one journey may seem like a small step. But when that person is among thousands of others, all making their own pledge to leave their cars at home, then the potential impact is huge.

‘Individually, we can all take positive action to tackle climate change, reduce traffic congestion, and increase our activity levels. Collectively, it will make a difference.'

As well as benefiting the environment, people who swap a journey as part of Change Your World will be improving their health.

A quarter of all car journeys are two miles or less, so walking a two-mile journey instead would burn an average of around 140 calories - the equivalent of a medium glass of wine or a bag of crisps. A steady two-mile cycle journey would burn an average of 80 calories - the equivalent of a chocolate digestive biscuit. [Source www.eatwell.gov.uk]

Pledgers don't have to walk or cycle. Using public transport instead of the car will help increase activity through walking to and from stations and stops. It's also a far more sociable way of travelling - as is car-sharing - and will help cut local traffic congestion.

In 2008, around 8000 people pledged to swap a journey as part of Change Your World. Sustrans is hoping even more people will get involved this year and demonstrate that alternatives to personal car travel are a real option.

For more information, or to make a pledge, visit www.changeyourworld.org.uk or to find out more about Sustrans and how to support its work, visit www.sustrans.org.uk

(c) Sustrans 2009

Notes

1. On average across the British population there are 435 car driver trips per person per year. 57 per cent of the population has a drivers' licence so there are around 435/0.57 = 763 car driver trips per car driver per year. A 10 per cent reduction equates to 76 fewer car driver trips per car driver, per year, or 38 return journeys. Switching one journey per week would achieve at least this (even taking into account that not everyone who has a licence drives, and that there are less than 52 travelling weeks in the year). Total UK carbon dioxide emissions from transport are 173 million tonnes. Passenger cars account for 39.7 per cent of this - 68.7 million tonnes. A ten per cent reduction would therefore save around 6.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. (Source: Department for Transport Carbon Pathways Analysis July 2008)

2. Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity. Its vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UK's transport challenges.

3. Sustrans' flagship project, the National Cycle Network, is now around 12,000 miles and runs within one mile of 55 per cent of the UK population. During 2007 over 354 million trips were made on the Network. There are around 2,500 rangers helping to look after the National Cycle Network.

4. Throughout 2009 Sustrans is encouraging more women to cycle. Our website www.bikebelles.org.uk has advice for women on what to wear, where to go, how to get started and a specially recruited women's panel are sharing ideas and experiences. Sustrans will also be organising female-friendly cycle rides in the summer. The thoughts and concerns of women, gathered throughout the year, will be used to inform our approach to UK governments with proposals on how to help more women get out and about on bikes, to the benefit of their health, the environment and our economy.