Skip to content

 School of Geography and the Environment

University of Oxford

 The Transport Studies Unit

Outreach

Part of the School of Geography and the Environment

Energy, Environment and Climate Change

Overview

Transport is perceived to be the most difficult sector to decarbonise, yet there is global consensus that it must play a key role in meeting carbon emission reduction targets and wider sustainability aspirations. Interactions between the energy, environment and transport systems are complex and decision-making must account for multi-criteria objectives that are local, regional and global in nature. This research theme focuses on understanding current patterns of travel and emissions, from passenger and freight transport, and assessing the potential for and dynamics of future change. This includes the inter-related roles of technology and behaviour in achieving policy goals. Various techniques are applied including systems analysis, futures studies and scenario analysis, backcasting, travel behaviour analysis, technological assessments and strategic energy-environmental-transport modelling. The end goals are to provide robust evidence for policy and practice, to widen engagement in the debate and ultimately to improve ownership over sustainable transport futures.

Research Projects