The environment bears the consequences of transport. This is becoming a deciding factor in some of the most serious and complex environmental problems that affect all of humanity, such as climate change, and it contributes significantly to the everyday impacts to the urban environment and its residents.

The environmental problems caused by transport worsen with the increase in the use of cars. Even though they have become more efficient, their number has increased so much that they are currently responsible for half the energy spending in our country. According to the 1990-2008 Inventory, road transport emits 92.315 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Recent studies estimate that 45% of car journeys are under 3 km (30 minutes on foot) and 10% of car journeys are under 500 meters (5 minutes on foot). Driving to school, work, or the shop is common, even if distances are short. This not only stops kids from walking or cycling to the school center and gaining personal independence, but it also produces small traffic jams near the school centers and produces great quantities of greenhouse gas.

The activity starts with a brainstorm about which means of transport they know. The answers are written on the board, and then from this list the modes of transport that could be used to get to school are deduced. This will be useful to introduce the topic and clear up some concepts: What are modes of transport? What is public transport and what is private transport?

Next, ask the students to locate their home in a map of the area located on the notice board of the class and ask them to also trace their daily journey to school.

The activity continues with them individually filling in the “mobility sheet”. It is a tool to reflect on their own transport habits and those of the rest of the class, as well as their differences and similarities. The last part of the sheet is a formula to calculate the amount of CO2 that is generated depending on the means of transport used during the journey to school.

Afterwards, share the results and extract conclusions from them. Add up the amount of CO2 of every person and multiply it by the number of school days in a school year.

Ask the students what other ways of reducing CO2 they can think of.

Annexes: 

This activity is part of the 21-22 Solidarity Campaign.