Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub
The Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub (HLTH) has been established to lead research into the potential to maximise the health benefits of low-carbon transport.
Rapid decarbonisation of transport is essential if the UK is to meet statutory greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions targets. Historically, CO2e emissions reduction measures have not systemically considered physical and mental health impacts, or inequalities in their distribution.
The potential 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 also possible but less clearly evidenced; and some forms of low-carbon travel are being promoted without full consideration of health implications. For example, increased particulate emissions from tyres and brakes from increased weight and acceleration/deceleration of electric cars potentially lead to more severe respiratory disease and greater likelihood and more severe consequences of collisions with vulnerable road users.
Health impacts and inequalities in their distribution might also arise from other underlying trends and policy measures which reduce the need to travel, for example through increased remote working. Attempts by transport(?) planners, engineers, public health experts and policy makers to promote health-beneficial forms of transport have met with mixed success; for example, cycle networks and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have been blocked or resisted.
The new HLTH will identify barriers, incentives and accelerants for implementing healthy low-carbon transport schemes. It will propose and evaluate new solutions for maximising health co-benefits and reducing health inequalities associated with low-carbon transport interventions by taking a ‘whole systems’ approach. Reducing health inequalities regionally and nationally is a key focus, as is defining, co creating and co-curating our strategy and programme with a broad range of stakeholders, especially the public.
Mission: Accelerate the adoption of low-carbon transport solutions that maximise health co-benefits and reduce health inequalities.
Vision: Increased understanding and uptake of low-carbon transport interventions for improved physical and mental health, and wellbeing throughout the UK’s population.
HLTH Values:
- Lead by example in carrying out research for an equitable and inclusive society. This will include ethical leadership, encouraging equality diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across the Hub
- Represent socio-demographic, ethnic and geographic diversity, recruited from local networks to establish a People’s Panel
- Supporting research to improve lives by making processes and practices safer, fairer, and more equitable, inclusive, diverse and transparent
- Research enriched through transdisciplinary working
- a systems-of-systems approach that addresses Technical/social/economic/political interactions to identify and mitigate unintended consequences, reinforce co-benefits and reduce population health inequalities
- Focus on co-creation processes with policymakers and the public to enhance decarbonisation intervention acceptability and effectiveness
Visit the HLTH website for more information