A NEW POLL of over 2,000 Australians released today reveals that NSW has the highest support for more government spending on public transport and electric buses powered by renewable energy.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “A cleaner, more efficient and affordable transport system is what people in NSW want and it’s also crucial for our climate.
“Transport is Australia’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and our country’s second biggest source of climate pollution.
“Seeing more Australians choose public transport, walking and bike-riding – alongside the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) – is essential to cut costs for households and drive down Australia’s emissions.”
The poll comes as momentum is gathering to get more EVs onto Australia’s roads by introducing new Fuel Efficiency Standards. Together, these actions chart a clear course to decarbonising our transport fleet.
The survey of 2,163 Australians adults also found that:
Eight in 10 Australians believe governments should spend more on public transport.
More than two-thirds of Australians surveyed believe governments should deliver more footpaths and bike lanes.
Latest figures show Australian state governments currently allocate less than 2% of their transport budget to footpaths and bike lanes. In every state surveyed – Qld, NSW, Vic and SA – a majority (60%) of poll respondents believe this is not enough.
Australians who commute to work using public transport can save over $8,000 a year compared with exclusively driving a car. For those who can bike or walk, the savings are close to $12,000.
Climate Council Head of Advocacy, Dr Jennifer Rayner said: “Investing in public transport and infrastructure for walking and bike-riding is much more popular than governments may realise.
“Australians know leaving the car at home can deliver cheaper commutes, healthier streets and reduced emissions for a cleaner environment. Now we need the investment to back up that choice so it’s easy and convenient for people to move around in cheaper, cleaner ways.”
The Climate Council is calling for states and territories to:
Allocate at least half of their transport budgets to public transport and 20 percent to initiatives that boost walking and bike-riding in line with best practice and the community’s needs.
Encourage private electric bike uptake through discounts at point of sale and government-funded try-before-you-buy programs.
Convert state and territory bus fleets to clean, quiet and zero-emission buses.
