Chapter 11 Transport and Climate Change Policy in the United Kingdom: A Social Justice Perspective

Abstract

Purpose – The social dimensions of the relationship between transport and climate change are examined, in particular, the potential for unintended negative consequences to directly and/or indirectly arise from policies to reduce the climate change impact of the transport sector. It takes the example of current policies in the UK as its primary focus.

Methodology/approach – A combination of literature, policy review and the quantitative and qualitative evidence gathered through primary fieldwork research from a number of related studies.

Findings – It is identified that different social groups can experience very different outcomes in accessing transport and adapting to changes to the transport system, whether these are uniquely targeted towards certain individuals or more systemically applied across the whole population. For this reason, it is essential that policy makers fully understand the potential vulnerability and resilience of different social groups to policies that are intended to address transport-related climate change. The key component of social impacts should be systematically analyzed, by income, potential vulnerability and their spatial and temporal distribution, as well as according to resilience/adaptability to the proposed intervention. This continues to pose an important future challenge for research in this area of transport policy making.

Originality/value – This chapter highlights the potential for unintended negative social consequences to directly and/or indirectly arise from policies to reduce the climate change impact of the transport sector.

Citation

Lucas, K. and Pangbourne, K. (2012), "Chapter 11 Transport and Climate Change Policy in the United Kingdom: A Social Justice Perspective", Ryley, T. and Chapman, L. (Ed.) Transport and Climate Change (Transport and Sustainability, Vol. 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 287-312. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9941(2012)0000002014