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Most cars have 4 wheels – and most guzzle petrol or diesel. Why does driving impact climate change? The exhaust fumes from cars include carbon dioxide, amongst other gases, which lead to climate change as well as causing air pollution. It is best for our planet and our health to reduce our number of car journeys, taking public transport, or walking, cycling or scooting instead.
This week Young Climate Warriors are challenged to travel to school on 2 wheels or 3 wheels rather than 4 wheels! Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is encouraging more families to travel to school actively to create healthier and happier communities. For Young Climate Warriors this is a double whammy – as it’s better for climate change too!
Have you noticed any new cycle paths recently? Could you think about taking alternative routes that would be more manageable on a bicycle? Would you need to build in a little extra time to allow for cycling rather than driving? HIT THE RED BUTTON and tell us when you’ve helped our planet by cutting carbon emissions from your car journeys. Send us a photo of you on 2 or 3 wheels for our gallery?
In the UK, our lives are often structured around driving – on 4 wheels – and sometimes alternatives aren’t available. If you have to get into your car – can you think of how you can help reduce your impact on climate change? Here are some tips as to how you can help reduce the guzzling!
Tip no 1 – lift sharing. Can you think hard this week about who you could offer a lift to? How often do you turn up at football, Cubs, Brownies or dance class and bump into your friend who lives down the road? Can you make suggestions to your parent/carer about potential lift-shares – and cut your carbon emissions from that journey in half?!
Tip no 2 – switching off. Whilst you are sitting in your car waiting to collect your brother, sister or friend, at the bus stop, or in a traffic jam, can you ask your parent or carer to turn the engine off? Keeping the engine running without driving anywhere is called ‘idling’ – think of those carbon emissions you could save by turning it off. There are now lots of local ‘anti-idling campaigns’ - have you seen their slogan ‘I’m no idler… idling is fuelish.’
Tip no 3 – check your tyre pressure. Next time you go to the garage to fill up on fuel, can you ask your parent/carer if they can check the tyre pressure – and show you how the air pressure gauge works? Have you ever tried cycling a bike with a flat tyre? It’s really hard work! If the air pressure in your car tyres is too low, this means your car engine has to work harder, burn more fuel, and therefore produce more carbon emissions.
When you have enjoyed your travel to school on 2 or 3 wheels rather than 4 – then let us know – let your voice be heard – by HITTING THE RED BUTTON!
