How could people and places be connected by 2035?
The report
Statements
Dr Eurgain Powell (co-chair): ‘ve been co-chairing the Connections group along with Prof. Lorraine Whitmarsh from CAST, as part of the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group, commissioned by the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. Connecting to others, both physically and virtually, is a key aspect of all our lives and our brief was to explore how people and places can be connected in a net zero Wales whilst also improving health, wellbeing, equity and nature.
We believe that society should be supported to travel less, travel differently and travel better. Our advice supports a transformative mobility agenda to avoid, shift and improve the movement of people and goods, to reduce car dependency whilst also supporting a healthier, fairer future. By enabling and investing in digital connectivity, local services, fairer fares for public transport, walking and cycling, car sharing e-hubs, rail freight and sustainable aviation fuel, we believe our advice offers a better direction for the people of Wales and closer alignment with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Headlines
- Travel less
- Boost digital connectivity so all communities can use broadband to connect remotely to people and services.
- Love local by supporting shops and services to make it easier for people to work, shop and play without having to drive.
- Upscale repair, refill and reuse schemes and curb advertising to minimise the movement of goods.
- Travel differently
- Invest in fairer fares for public transport and free bus travel for all under 22s and other disadvantaged groups.
- Activate active travel through major investment in local road improvements, including school streets and car-free city centres, making it safer, fun and more convenient to walk or cycle instead of driving. Implement financial measures, such as higher parking charges, to make driving less attractive.
- De-carb the commute by partnering with big employers like councils and the NHS to incentivise walking, cycling and public transport for work journeys
- Travel better
- Establish e-hubs by working with car dependent rural and urban communities to offer affordable and convenient access to electric vehicles without ownership.
- Incentivise rail freight over road haulage and deliver to parcel consolidation centres using small electric vans and cargo bikes for last mile deliveries.
- Position Wales as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel leader by establishing a Centre of Excellence at Cardiff Airport and a production plant at Port Talbot
Members
Dr. Eurgain Powell (co-chair)
Prof. Lorraine Whitmarsh (co-chair)
Sarah Toy (secretariat)
Stan Townsend (secretariat)