Glenn Lyons Glenn.Lyons@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Future Mobility
Andrew Crudgington
Janice Jaison
Annette Smith
Emily Read
Abstract
CLIMATES (Changing Landscapes for Infrastructure and Mobility: Assessing Transport and Environment Scenarios) is a 2024-25 initiative from the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (sponsored by Mott MacDonald and Ringway).
With engagement from hundreds of highways and transportation professionals through in-person and online workshops and an online research survey, the following question was considered: In an uncertain world, what priority actions in highways and transportation should we double-down on in the next three years to meet the unfolding challenges of climate change as we look out to 2035 and beyond?
The initiative has used foresight methods to explore future possibilities and track back to the present to determine our immediate priorities.
There is a recognised need to double down on the conditions for change, the processes to drive change and the outcomes needed from change. Seven recommendations have resulted from this work. These address: (1) equipping professionals for climate action; (2) public-focused, positively-oriented storytelling; (3) demonstrating that transport decarbonisation is on track; (4) effective working between professionals and government; (5) reappraising appraisal to prioritise future wellbeing; (6) prioritising climate action in national transport strategies; and (7) pricing to address transport’s true costs to society.
The report emphasises the challenge ahead and the extent of concern about climate change and its effects. It also highlights the determination of professionals to play their part in doubling down on climate action.
Please cite as:
Lyons, G., Crudgington, A., Jaison, J., Smith, A. and Read, E. (2025). Doubling down on climate action in highways and transportation. A report from the CLIMATES initiative on behalf of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, June. https://www.ciht.org.uk/climates
