Download the speaker presentations:

Jacqui Wilkinson, Department for Transport
Rynd Smith, Royal Town Planning Institute
Oliver Smith, Department of Health
Paul Osbourne, Sustrans
Jim McAllister, Dunsfold Park

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The integration of evidence-based knowledge within policy making processes strengthens the delivery of sustainable development strategies and initiatives within all sectors of the UK government. A challenge for sustainable transport objectives is the understanding of potential impacts from policy implementation across government sectors. Some impacts may be clear, such as transport demand from housing policies, however other policies may have more subtle effects on transport. An over-arching cross-sector research approach may provide a route to uncovering these links.

In order to continue the development of research into practice this SDRN / TRL workshop will explore the dynamic between transport policy and other policy areas which may create unsustainable transport demand. The main focus of the workshop will be the relationships between the transport, education, health and housing sectors. Facilitated discussions will provide opportunities for delegates to share their views and draw from their own experiences and sector knowledge. Information collected will be fed into policy development and used to identify future research needs.

The event is aimed at policy makers, academics and business representatives, and is free to attend.

KEY SPEAKERS:

• Karen Lucas (Chair), Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford
• Jacqui Wilkinson, Department for Transport
• Rynd Smith, Royal Town Planning Institute
• Oliver Smith, Department of Health
• Paul Osbourne, Sustrans
• Clare Mulholland, DCSF/DfT
• Marcus Jones, Transport Research Laboratory

For further information, and to register to attend the workshop, download the workshop programme.

 Find out more about SDRN’s Research into Practice workstreams here…

• What are the likely risks associated with climate change?
• What are the likely economic and social impacts of climate change on the UK’s transport system which will need to be adapted to?
• What policies would help the UK’s transport system adapt to climate change, and promote the development of sustainable transport? What policies and activities are already underway? What are the gaps?
• What evidence is needed in order to support these policies?

The workshop report, produced by the Centre for Sustainability, introduces the background to the workshop, summarises the guest presentations, break-out group discussions, key recommendations, and highlights the Chairman’s observations on the four main themes to arise from the workshop; uncertainty, risk management, policy and institutional issues, and resilience of the system.

Download the workshop report.

Download the workshop presentations:

• Hazel Thornton: Climate Science
• Teresa Willway: New DfT guidance on climate change impacts and adaptation for highways
• Alex Harvey: Tools to help organisations assess impacts and adapt
• Helen Woolston: Climate change adaptation for London’s transport system

This high-level workshop is being held to help explore the challenge of adapting the UK’s transport network to the impacts of climate change. It will bring together key stakeholders from the transportation sector, climate change sciences and beyond including representatives of central government, local authorities, transport providers, academics and business representatives. It is intended to inform the development of a national strategy on climate change adaptation and transport. This event is being held as part of SDRN’s Research into Practice workstream and is being organised by the Centre for Sustainability (C4S), at TRL with the support of the Department of Transport. Space at the workshop is limited so please contact Layla Baldachin at C4S, at the earliest opportunity, if you are interested in attending.

Download the Sustainable Transport Workshop Event Flyer

For further information on this work please contact either Ben Shaw at PSI or the lead organisations for each workstream.

Transport is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions and it is recognised that a significant reduction will be required to reduce emissions to sustainable levels. There are also broader problems associated with transport which have social, environmental and economic impacts: non-carbon emissions, air quality, noise, congestion, social cohesion, community severance and accessibility to a full range of service for some sections of society.

Two workshops will be run under this theme focused on issues of relevance to sustainable transport practitioners. The first will explore the issue of transport and climate change adaptation and will be held in June. The second will be held later in the year and will explore the dynamic between transport policy and other policy areas which create demand for transport often in an unsustainable manner.

The Sustainable Transport workstream is being led by the Centre for Sustainability at TRL, with input from the Department for Transport.