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Commuting without the car....John Mellor from Dobwalls near Liskeard is doing something about climate change by leaving the car at home and commuting to work on the train. Why they are doing things to help the climate.... John thinks everybody needs to do their bit to help reduce the threat of climate change and feels one of the easiest things he could do personally was to travel to work more sustainably by using public transport instead of his car. He recognises that many people think that doing a little bit will have no impact on the climate, but if everyone did something it would have a far greater impact in protecting our future than a small number of people doing a lot. He says he is not prepared to bury his head in the sand and do nothing so that in years to come we leave a nasty world for our children to live in – he urges others to do the same. What they are doing.... John works in Truro, but rather than driving in he gets the train to work. Using the railway system is Lots of people commute to work alone in their cars, causing lots of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. Using public transport is much better for the climate as buses and trains can carry lots of people, by making use of them you are saving unnecessary pollution of the climate. Why it’s important….. Figures from Defra show that in 2004 21% of the total UK carbon dioxide emissions came from the transport sector. Of these, over 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions come from cars. If more people used the train or bus to get to work we could dramatically reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted to the atmosphere. Every tonne emitted into the atmosphere commits the world to more warming. But every tonne we avoid emitting helps reduce the risk. Roads in the UK are becoming congested and grinding to a halt at peak hours. At peak times, about 80% of These problems are highly visible in Cornwall, and it is essential that Cornwall responds to the growing pressures on its road network. A small reduction in car use can mean the difference between a road network working and it standing still. Further information.... Traveling more sustainably is not difficult and has real benefits for the climate, your health and the local community. John is just one example of how you can travel more sustainably. By reducing car dependency and encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport, when and where possible, individuals will reap the benefits of making more sustainable travel which is often cheaper and a stress free alternative to driving. For more information on sustainable travel in Cornwall visit Cornwall County Council - Sustainable Travel For information on public transport options in Cornwall, including timetables and links for trains, buses and ferries visit this website. For more information on the environmental impacts of transport and sound advice on how to make a difference Friends of the Earth have produced a free and simple 16 page guide.
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OptionsThis StoryListen again to this story.... Related Stories14. Traveling without the plane Related LinksClimate Change Defra A New Deal for Transport Cornwall County Council Public Transport Friends of the Earth
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an ideal way of moving a lot of people, it means there is less pollution, less congestion and less accidents on the roads. By using the train he gets to work quicker as there are never traffic jams to deal with, he can also work on the train, meet colleagues, have telephone conversations and he gets to work and back home much more relaxed than if he drives. 
cars have only one person in them. The car dependency culture has grown to such a level that resultant problems which affect health, the climate and the economy are being addressed as a matter of urgency by the government. The Government White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" (1998) aimed to change the future of how we travel. The 