True scale of carbon impact from long-distance travel revealed

Researchers from the University of Leeds have uncovered the significant carbon impact of long-distance travel, with journeys over 50 miles contributing to 70% of passenger travel-related carbon emissions despite accounting for less than 3% of trips by UK residents. International travel, representing only 0.4% of total trips, is responsible for 55% of emissions. The study suggests that focusing on reducing long-distance travel could be more effective in cutting emissions compared to efforts targeting local and commuter journeys. By creating a new metric called emission reduction sensitivity, the researchers found that shifting short car journeys to walking or cycling would have a minimal impact on emissions, while transitioning short flights to rail travel could lead to a substantial reduction in emissions with minimal disruption to travel patterns. The researchers hope their findings will prompt policymakers to reconsider how they address the environmental impact of travel and encourage individuals to prioritize reducing long-distance trips, particularly flights, to achieve significant carbon reductions.