Accelerating the journey to net zero transport

Network-wide transport decarbonisation will only be achieved when everyone approaches mobility with a new mindset. From mobility pricing to creating sustainable first and last mile options for all journeys, transport agencies and operators can deploy a growing range of levers to reshape transport demand, incentivise active and public transport, and deliver additional health and wellbeing benefits.

Technologies such as agent-based modelling allow us to gain more detailed and accurate insights into people’s travel behaviours and preferences. This means that we can then design transport solutions that better meet our users’ needs – thereby reducing waste and growing ridership on sustainable modes.

We are developing strategies to support public agencies of all sizes to create alternatives to individual motorised journeys.

For example, working with the Government of Jersey, we delivered a public realm and movement strategy that improves integration of transport modes and supports the behavioural shifts needed to encourage more people to travel using sustainable modes.

Investors’ focus is shifting rapidly to ensure they only invest in those transport infrastructure projects that are sustainable. International and regional regulatory initiatives, such as the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, are influencing investors’ decisions and driving finance toward sustainable mobility.

Understanding which projects will make the grade in this investment atmosphere, and how to sequence project development, is essential. Decisions about transport strategy and modal mix are unique to each city or region – we help investors understand the potential benefits and carbon impacts of different proposals, and work with public and private organisations to create projects that will attract green finance.

The challenge of protecting and enhancing operators’ and transport networks’ access to credit and, in turn, controlling the cost of debt will increasingly require transparent, credible emissions transition plans. We work with asset owners and operators in demonstrating their climate-risk preparedness transparently and maintaining a strong investment profile.

Transport decarbonisation is about far more than vehicle choice and modal mix. System-wide decarbonisation is also about the carbon implications of transport infrastructure design, construction and operation. In particular, minimising embodied carbon in both infrastructure and vehicles must be tackled to achieve credible, comprehensive transport decarbonisation, as is operational emission reduction across supply chains.

The insight we generate from transport networks’ available data provides enormous potential to identify whole life carbon efficiency gains. These insights form the basis of whole life cycle carbon strategies to minimise material use, maximise the lifespan of assets, and repurpose and reuse infrastructure at end of life. We use our experience from a wide range of industries within but also beyond transport to bring ‘best in class’ approaches to whole-life carbon.

Our work exploring the potential uses of mass timber in road bridge structures, metro stations and airports is at the heart of innovations that have the potential to reduce embodied carbon and introduce circular economy techniques.

Decarbonising the electricity and power supplies serving transport vehicles and networks is an essential element of creating a net zero transport sector. It is often a first step taken by systems operators seeking to reduce operational carbon. Transport system and fleet operators’ renewable energy purchasing power in the market can also drive greater and more rapid change within local and regional energy markets.

As an energy engineering leader, we develop frameworks for the safe and resilient introduction of renewable sources, allowing large networks and major operators to achieve viable transitions and catalyse change in other sectors. By bringing our deep, on-the-ground energy expertise together with our transport knowledge, we are able to develop and design at the interface of decarbonising energy and transport systems.

From national power outages to flooded metro stations and collapsing bridges, climate change is having increasingly significant impacts on vital transport infrastructure and communities. As an essential complement to net zero transition, we focus on strengthening transport system resilience. Increasing the flexibility and recovery capacity of transport systems as they decarbonise will both reduce emissions whilst minimising climate risks.

Partnering with one of the largest rail asset owners in the world, we have developed an ambitious but practical infrastructure design manual designed to drive a radical reduction of carbon emissions across the supply chain, while simultaneously strengthening infrastructure resilience to extreme weather events.

The scale of change that transport decarbonisation requires presents operators and owners with significant opportunities and risks - operationally, commercially and legally. Those who move quickly to identify, map and effectively manage transition risks will gain significant competitive advantage. We anticipate transition risks and develop organisational strategies that enable transport networks to proceed with confidence.

We developed an organisational strategy for a UK rail organisation to accelerate their transition to net zero. Our work realigns governance structures and processes to support.

Discover how we’re partnering with clients around the world to shape transport, highways, rail, aviation and maritime.