Deal or no Deal? - Conflict in Darfur

The end of a long and bitter conflict may be in sight. Follow the links and make notes from this news story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8530033.stm

Sustainable Transport - Its a Gas Gas Gas!

Check this link out. How could this impact on sustainable transport?

Sustainable Transport - Planning for the Future - Leeds & Yorkshire Region

Sustainable Transport

Sustainable transport minimises the negative environmental and social impacts of travel, whilst maintaining an efficient and effective transport system that supports sustainable economic growth. This includes, for example, reducing transport emissions that contribute to local pollution problems and climate change; and promoting environments that encourage safe and pleasant walking and cycling.

In the MEDW there are three key areas of implementation:

•  Promoting Cycling and Active travel 
•  Encouraging Smarter Measures 
•  Accelerating the development and use of low carbon vehicles and alternative fuels

Cycling and Active Travel (use your 4b notes).

What are Smart Measures?


Smart Measures are instruments which provide the infrastructure and promote the benefits of more active and sustainable travel. They are a suite of steps to encourage more sustainable and active forms of travel like walking and cycling as well as making more efficient and effective use of cars by trying to reduce single occupancy vehicles.

Key elements of Smart Measures are:

Travel Plans, which provide organisations with a framework to engage with all people visiting its sites, typically staff and visitors but will include patients and students where applicable.

Other measures include:-

•     Personalised Travel Planning;
•     Car clubs and car sharing;
•     Alternative working practice

Smart Measures aim to reduce the social, economic and environmental costs associated with the commute to work, as well as business related trips.

Why encourage Smarter Measures?

Recent studies suggest that the rolling out of Smart Measures in the UK could reduce national traffic volumes by seven per cent. This would provide an estimated saving of 0.7 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2)  in 2020, equivalent to four billion car kilometres, or 13 return trips to the sun!



What's happening Leeds?

Underground in Leeds?

The Leeds City Region Transport Strategy - Delivering Low Carbon Connectivity to Promote Faster Economic Growth was signed off in November 2009. Emissions from road transport account for 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions. The LCR strategy seeks to address this issue with a variety of policies to reduce carbon emissions from transport and improve energy resilience. November outlining the city and regional transport plans for the next 20 - 24 years.

Check out the two docs for key info and examples:

http://www.leedscityregion.gov.uk/uploadedFiles/Research_and_Publications/Transport/2.%20LCRTS%20Executive%20Summary(1).pdf

http://www.leedsinitiative.org/assets/0/544/546/552/558/B190C262-2BD9-4FCE-9757-C21E90C5DC7A.pdf





 

Population Change in Rural Areas

Population change in rural area is influenced by proximity to urban areas and their influence. Remote rural populations in the UK are in decline, whereas accessible rural-urban fringe areas are expanding.

Consequences of decline:

• elderly and socio-economically disadvantaged are polarised
• houses are often bought as second homes leading to ghost-towns
• negative multiplier effect - spiral of decline - deprivation sets in - people become trapped and cannot relocate

Consequences of expansion:

• new build creates housing local people cannot afford
• new famillies have two or more vehicles - increase traffic flow and congestion
• dormitory villages with little or no activity during the day
• conflict between established village community and newcomers
• maintaining village/rural identity becomes an issue

Check out this document for further data and projections on Rural Population Change

http://www.rerc.ac.uk/findings/documents_demography/D9RuralEng_Ch_Projns1991_2028.pdf