Transport & Air Pollution
Transport is Scotland’s biggest source of climate emissions and the primary source of air pollution, which leads to 2,500 premature deaths in Scotland every year.
We need a decent public transport system that everyone can afford, and for people to feel safer walking and cycling so that fewer of us are using cars to get around.
By shifting the focus of planning and public spending towards public transport, walking and cycling we'll improve our health, climate and tackle social inequality.
Our transport system needs to change
Our current transport system isn’t working for us. Our “car is king” mentality means that driving is often the only option for people, leaving those without a car behind and causing dangerous levels of air pollution and carbon emissions in the process.
Making transport work for everyone
Public transport should be for everyone. This means making them free for all, but also bringing buses back into public ownership so services are run where people need them, not just where bus companies can make the most profit.
We need councils to build safe cycling networks, so people are confident in using their bikes to get around. And communities must take the lead in the transition away from our car-dominated system, so that what replaces it works for all of Scotland.
What we are doing
- Pushing the Scottish Government to take stronger action to meet its climate goals
- Researching the best solutions for creating a transport system that works for everyone
- Supporting community groups to create change in their area
- Increasing awareness of the environmental, health and social problems caused by the current transport system.
Recent successes
- We helped push the Scottish Government into commiting to reduce car travel by 20% by 2030
- Low Emission Zones are being introduced in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee
- Councils have new powers to start publicly-owned bus companies
- The active travel budget will be increased to 10% of the Government’s overall transport budget by 2024.
We need to start thinking of public transport as an essential service, like education or health. It should be available to everyone and free at the point of use. This is the only way we can tackle the climate crisis, air pollution and the inequality being caused by the current system.
Gavin Thomson, Transport Campaigner
Latest Blogs
Get involved in Car Free Day 2022
Car Free Day takes place every year to encourage us to reimagine our transport system. It is an opportunity to think about how we move around and what changes we…
Making transport work for local people
There have been huge changes to how we move around, which presents new councillors with opportunities to make lasting change for the better.
Scotland’s Most Polluted Streets in 2021
Scotland broke air pollution limits again in 2021. These are the streets that had the worst levels of pollution.
Latest Press Releases
Climate emissions drop due to pandemic restrictions
The drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, published by the Scottish Government today (7 June 2022), was due to reduced car traffic during lockdown, say campaigners. The statistics, which…
Young cyclists take to their bikes to demand safer streets
Almost 500 young cyclists in Edinburgh and Inverness took to the streets this weekend to demand action is taken to make the streets safer for cycling. The events, run by…
Pandemic era sees huge rise in cycling, stats show
Official figures document the rise in cycling during the pandemic and the huge public handouts to bus companies.
Resources
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone consultation response
Polluted air is harming our health, so we’re calling for cleaner cities with more public transport, cycling and walking.
Low Emission Zone Briefing
Air Pollution Campaign Toolkit
Workplace Parking Levies Parliamentary Briefing (Feb 2019)
Polluted air is harming our health, so we’re calling for cleaner cities with more public transport, cycling and walking.
National Planning Framework 4 Position Statement response
We need better buses
An affordable, accessible bus network will lead to less car travel, and so lower pollution and climate emissions. Buses are vital for the future of our transport system. But the current system doesn’t deliver for passengers.
Walking and Cycling
Travelling by walking and cycling means reduced pollution and carbon emissions, and brings benefits for our physical and mental health.
What is a Low Emission Zone?
Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are areas in town or city centres where the most polluting vehicles are restricted from entering.
Help make more impact
Take Action Online
Sign our latest petitions and e-actions. Change comes when we unite.
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Events
Find out and register for our latest environmental events across Scotland and online.