Low Carbon Oxford NorthMeeting 25th January 2011

The carbon footprint of car travel

Average carbon emissions per person in the UK is 12.5 tonnes of CO2

Home21%

Travel24%

Food & drink21%

Purchases22%

Infrastructure12%

Source: Chris Goodall How to live a low-carbon life

Carbon emissions of travel

Cars39%

Rail and bus3%

Air58%

Source: Chris Goodall How to live a low-carbon life

Carbon footprint of car travel

Cars are responsible for

10% of CO2 emissions

They represent 20% of

emissions we can control

Per UK citizen – cars

contribute 1.2 tonnes a year

Per car – each car contributes 2.6 tonnes a

year

Source: based on Chris Goodall How to live a low-carbon life

… but emissions are unequally distributed

Highest 10% of

emitters are

responsible for 43%

of emissions

Lowest 10% of emitters are responsible for 1% of emissions

Brand,C.; Boardman,B. Energy Policy 36 (200) 224-238

The carbon cost of getting to Oxford from Summertown

Carbon cost of getting into Oxford and back from Summertown

Just you (g CO2)  

2 of you(g CO2)  

Taking a black cab   (assuming 233 g/km)      1400   700

Using your car   (assuming old vehicle at 160g/km)

960  480

Using a new Prius hybrid   (assuming new car at 99 g/km)

594    298

Take the bus (assuming 1300g/km, 20 passengers) 

390      390

Cycle     0 0

Walk 0 0

Main options for reducing emissions from car travel (Based on annual emission per car of 2.6 tonnes

travelling 9,000 miles per year)Option Main impact on typical CO2 emissions

Car clubs 1.8 tonnes

Drive less Reduce by 2000 miles – 0.57 tonnes

Drive efficiently 0.9 tonnes

New efficient car Would only reduce emissions if old car at end of life

LPG car 0.35 tonnes

Hybrid car 1.1 tonnes

Smaller car A small diesel with manual transmission halves emissions

Automatic vs manual 0.3 tonnes

Small manual diesel 0.9 tonnes

Electric car 1.3 tonnes

Biofuels No convincing evidence of savings unless you use used chip fat

Source: based on Chris Goodall How to live a low-carbon life

….the school run