Public transport and its use to help the environment

Singyee
Balwyn High School
Australia

The great debate on whether global warming is truly a factor in 21st century society is one very hot potato. There have been many alarmists who point their finger at the industrialisation of the globe and others who say it is a natural result of the planet's own dynamics. However, we're not here to debate if global warming is fact or fiction. This paper is to discuss the benefits of public versus private transport to commuters in Victoria, Australia, and its consequent impact on global warming.

So, for the purpose of this paper, let's say the world for now consists of Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital. In terms of threats to 21st century society, global warming isn't even close. Approximately 1,000 years ago, the Earth was in a kind of little Ice Age, so all of the data that researchers have collected is correct, but taken out of context in terms of the history of the Earth. When only looking at the last 500 years, it would seem only logical to think that the Earth is warming up due to human interference. But when looking at the last 100,000 years and more, the Earth is still pretty cold in terms of Stone Age standards. So the theory that 'global warming' will cause chaos is not really true.

With that set aside, it seems there is nothing to worry about. However, it is known that in the greater metropolitan region, direct health care costs due to air pollution is estimated to be between $1 billion and $3 billion per annum, and indirect costs at up to $8 billion. This is equivalent to up to 4% of gross state product. Putting this into individual perspective, on average this is equal to a per capita cost of anywhere from $AUD192 - $AUD839 and as high as $AUD1594. With the average income being $33,600, air pollution is costing Victorians dearly.

All that said, have you thought about how you're contributing to global warming? Thought about the damage you have been causing the world? The scars you have made on this Earth? No? Because none of that really affects us, right? Well, think about this. Victoria is estimated to have a population of around 4.5 million and 3.2 million of those live in Melbourne. For every one million people, there is estimated to be 600,000 private vehicles. This equals 1.92 million vehicles in Melbourne alone. This means that, for every private vehicle on the road in Victoria, the direct and indirect cost to the public health system is $AUD520.85 per annum per vehicle.

I believe that public transport is a better way of getting to and from destinations because less greenhouse gas emissions are released into the air. Public transport systems on average produce two to four times less pollution then private systems and cost 11 cents per unit of fuel compared to private systems, which use anywhere from 78 cents to $AUD1.60 per unit of fuel. If more Victorians used public transport, and took 100,000 private vehicles off the road, Victorians would benefit by being $AUD52 million richer.

Thus, taking public transport is good for the environment; it is good for Victorians, and will help to reduce or slow down the process of global warming, if there is any. Public transport in Melbourne is an easy and relatively cheap option for travelling to various locations. Most modes of public transport use electricity, with the exclusion of taxis and buses that run on petroleum.

If all Victorians are to use public transport everyday, new legislation is required in order to help this happen. I believe that the government is not paying enough attention to pollution. One method of getting more people onto public transport is to make it more affordable, perhaps even free, and more efficient. Then, due to a decrease in road usage, there would be less need to invest as much money in road infrastructure. If this money could be transferred into laying out new rails and implementing more effective forms of public transport, it would make public transport a more attractive alternative to private car usage. It may also be beneficial to add another 10% public transport tax on top of the 40% tax on petrol, so as to further decrease the popularity of privately owned vehicles. This money could then be invested in the public transport system. Reintroducing the everyday school buses that take you from home to school and back again would help the system work for both working parents and students.

There is still some debate as to whether global warming is real or not. Whatever the case, we can all agree that a greener, more energy smart Victoria, and maybe even Australia, which relies more on public modes of transport rather then private, is good in the long run. It is good in terms of the local environment, the people and, most of all, our blue planet Earth!

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