Environment – Navigating through sustainability

Googling a topic is always an insightful way to see what the world is trying to convince us of and which companies have the most budget to spend on Google ads. 

When I googled ‘sustainable motoring’, this was no exception. I noticed three distinct themes and all three can teach us a lot about sustainable motoring. 

The first thing I noticed on the page was several car brands boasting that their vehicles are the most sustainable option, especially their electric ones. The world is trying to convince us that sustainable motoring involves using cars with different engines and fuel types. 

While I am a supporter of the shift to vehicles that run off electricity (the second article that pops up is one written by yours truly about electric cars!), they’re also not the answer. 

Electric cars are the poster child for sustainable motoring, but I don’t think they should be. Instead of asking the question “how can we make this car sustainable?” we need to be asking “how can we get from ‘a to b’ in the most environmentally friendly and efficient way?” The answer is often carpooling, public transport, walking, biking, or simply not going because you realise it’s not a priority to transport yourself there.

The second thing you notice is the range of articles with sustainable driving tips. These include driving slower, changing gears sooner, keeping up regular maintenance of your car, checking tyres regularly, using particular oil types, and avoiding tapping the magic AC button whenever bearable. I love these practical tips; I only wish more people would take notice of them! 

Finally, all Google responses acknowledged, both implicitly and explicitly, that transport is one of the biggest contributors to our carbon footprint. In Aotearoa New Zealand, transport accounts for approximately 17 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions. 

We need to think about sustainable motoring with a different lens, continue to develop the energy efficient vehicles that are in production, and ultimately reconsider our reliance on cars. Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest cars per person ratios in the world! I reckon all of us could reconsider the part we play in those statistics. 

Editor’s note: This is Kate’s final column for the paper. Many thanks for all your contributions, Kate.