Woodcock James, Banister David, Edwards Phil, Prentice Andrew M, Roberts Ian
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Lancet. 2007 Sep 22;370(9592):1078-88. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61254-9.
We examine the links between fossil-fuel-based transportation, greenhouse-gas emissions, and health. Transport-related carbon emissions are rising and there is increasing consensus that the growth in motorised land vehicles and aviation is incompatible with averting serious climate change. The energy intensity of land transport correlates with its adverse health effects. Adverse health effects occur through climate change, road-traffic injuries, physical inactivity, urban air pollution, energy-related conflict, and environmental degradation. For the world's poor people, walking is the main mode of transport, but such populations often experience the most from the harms of energy-intensive transport. New energy sources and improvements in vehicle design and in information technology are necessary but not sufficient to reduce transport-related carbon emissions without accompanying behavioural change. By contrast, active transport has the potential to improve health and equity, and reduce emissions. Cities require safe and pleasant environments for active transport with destinations in easy reach and, for longer journeys, public transport that is powered by renewable energy, thus providing high levels of accessibility without car use. Much investment in major road projects does not meet the transport needs of poor people, especially women whose trips are primarily local and off road. Sustainable development is better promoted through improving walking and cycling infrastructures, increasing access to cycles, and investment in transport services for essential needs. Our model of London shows how increased active transport could help achieve substantial reductions in emissions by 2030 while improving population health. There exists the potential for a global contraction and convergence in use of fossil-fuel energy for transport to benefit health and achieve sustainability.
我们研究了基于化石燃料的交通运输、温室气体排放与健康之间的联系。与交通相关的碳排放正在上升，并且越来越多的人达成共识，即机动陆地车辆和航空的增长与避免严重气候变化不相容。陆地运输的能源强度与其对健康的不利影响相关。不利健康影响通过气候变化、道路交通伤害、身体活动不足、城市空气污染、与能源相关的冲突以及环境退化而产生。对于世界上的贫困人口来说，步行是主要的交通方式，但这类人群往往受能源密集型运输危害影响最大。新能源以及车辆设计和信息技术的改进是必要的，但如果没有相应的行为改变，就不足以减少与交通相关的碳排放。相比之下，积极的交通方式有改善健康和公平状况以及减少排放的潜力。城市需要为积极的交通方式提供安全宜人的环境，使目的地易于到达，对于较长距离的出行，需要有由可再生能源驱动的公共交通，从而在不使用汽车的情况下提供高水平的可达性。对大型道路项目的许多投资并不能满足贫困人口的交通需求，尤其是那些出行主要在当地且不走公路的女性。通过改善步行和自行车基础设施、增加自行车的使用机会以及投资基本需求的交通服务，能更好地促进可持续发展。我们的伦敦模型表明，增加积极的交通方式如何有助于到2030年大幅减少排放，同时改善人口健康状况。在全球范围内，存在减少化石燃料能源在交通领域的使用并实现趋同的潜力，这将有益于健康并实现可持续性。
