Travel and Work
The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024
In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.
In 2015 I went to a seminar on how the climate was changing in Minnesota. The presenter was data-driven and factual, expertly weaving reams of collected data into a compelling tapestry illustrating how climate change was impacting the region. During the Q&A, someone in the audience stood up and asked the speaker whether climate change would be solved instantly if all the humans on the planet were suddenly removed through some means. Astounded, and acknowledging how the notion was “technically true”, the speaker pivoted to some solutions that could implemented while accounting for the continued existence of humanity. It was well done and oddly the questioner seemed satisfied with the answer.
Short of invoking a Thanos decision, another way to reduce emissions, it seems, is to send everyone home from work to quarantine from a global pandemic. According to the IMF, “emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases plunged 4.6 percent in 2020, as lockdowns in the first half of the year restricted global mobility and hampered economic activity”. It was short lived, however, and a return to a new normal post-pandemic sees emissions dramatically on the rise again, especially in the manufacturing and energy sectors.
Clearly, quarantining the human race at home is not a viable approach, and I think we gladly accept the rise of a new normal in how we live and work that comes with with the widespread use of vaccines. As we have discussed, the pandemic has caused a profound shift in how a significant number of us are going to work, and the impact on climate change is highlighted in the data showing that the recovery of emissions to pre-pandemic levels has been slower for the transportation sector and households. The root cause is our decision on where we work and how we get there.
I was in my hometown of Washington, D.C. several weeks ago and asked some locals about the current state of traffic in the area. [Having learned to drive in the traffic hell in and around the Capitol Beltway, I find it amusing here on the east side of St. Paul, MN when people complain about traffic]. The general consensus was that car traffic going into the Nation’s Capitol was up to about 80% or so of the level pre-pandemic, but they felt it was at the expense of lower ridership on public transportation including the DC Metro.
The amateur psychologists in the group offered the explanation that while there were overall fewer workers commuting to offices, commuters who previously chose public transportation to avoid sitting in traffic have returned to their cars. This was supported with data from The Washington Post that showed the increase in commuting in cars (from cellphone data) and the slow recovery of ridership on the public transportation since the new normal being established post-pandemic.
The evolution of our new work habits is continuing and there is an impact on traffic patterns. Given the greater acceptance of remote work and flexible schedules, the pre-pandemic traffic peaks in the morning and afternoon have been flattened as drivers leave for their offices at different times, which tends to reduce gridlock, but extend the hours of traffic congestion.
With all of this complexity, and with more people, more cars, lower fuel economy and other factors, we are still not addressing emissions from the transportation sector are expected to continue to grow.
We know that some workers have more freedom and increasingly choose to telecommute as companies adapt. Heidi cites statistics from the University of Chicago that shows that four years after the start of the pandemic, now 37% of US jobs can be conducted fully remotely, up from 20% reported in 2019. Along with these changes in work habits, there has been a big change in business-related travel as more remote options are implemented, as we have discussed.
“Telepresence integrates visual, audio, and network technologies, so people can interact across geographies. It cuts down and travel – especially flying – and its emissions”
Heidi Roop
The lesson from the height of the pandemic is stark: when we all stayed home, the air was less polluted and there was a precipitous drop in greenhouse gas emissions. But clearly this is not a solution that we can live with. It is likely that if you telecommute, all things being equal, the result is lower emissions. This is a good thing overall, but we must take care to avoid amplifying existing inequities in the job market because having the easy ability to telecommute may be more accessible to higher income workers and those with higher education attainment. Despite the changes, it remains true that the majority of work situations are not amenable to remote work.
As you consider your own situation, it is likely true that the more people that can work together effectively without having to travel to one place to do it, the lower the emissions. We should all make the most effective decisions for our own careers and support others to do the same. And in the spirit of “not letting a good crisis go to waste”, advocate for the evolution of “climate friendly policies across our transportation systems, and expanded climate commitments from corporations”, while we are at it.
Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 23: Seek Out Climate Solutions in the Workplace
Howard Creel
#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com