UK’s net zero carbon target means challenges & opportunities across our economy, environment & society.
But what does it mean for #HS2, the country’s biggest infrastructure project?
Here’s a thread summarising this review I wrote for @RailLeaders
https://www.rail-leaders.com/publications/hs2-towards-a-zero-carbon-future/

HS2 carbon impacts made up of construction, operation & modal shift
Opponents claim even “HS2 Ltd’s own figures” show it’s bad overall. But its govt policies to build and freeze cost of ,while increasing cost of that are putting HS2 on back foot.

These current transport policies don't comply with carbon targets & break the law
We need to cut traffic by as much as 40% by 2030 & reduce flights too. Even if many trips shift to, demand for could still more than double.

Problem is our railways are carrying record passenger levels. They’re close to capacity between our biggest cities. But those railways parallel the busiest roads we need to shift traffic from
Fortunately HS2 is designed to free up those existing railways plus provide new capacity

Surely there's a better option than HS2? Some people say it's nasty
Upgrading existing lines only provides small increase in capacity but years of disruption
After 10 years of looking, fairy tale to suggest we can now find alternative route without impacts on homes or trees

What about new tech like driverless & electric cars?
Well they're expected to increase congestion & demand for road building (far greater impact than HS2).
Big concerns too about their need for rare minerals. Lack of supply could mean locking us into a technological dead-end.

What about #relocalisation then?
Encouraging people to work more from home could reduce some rail trips but increase others if they move further away.
Bringing back manufacturing to UK would put new pressures on our congested transport networks.
Likewise more holidays at home.

All sectors & projects now need to do more to respond to #climate emergency, HS2 no exception
By integrating rail upgrades to Scotland & south west with opening HS2, could design out domestic mainland flights
Freight contributes 20% of air emissions, HS2 could offer alternative

Compared to sprawl, compact housing needs far less energy to construct & heat. Or land to build on. And far less car use of course.
Rail is vital for higher density housing, but only if there's spare capacity. And that's where HS2 comes in handy again.

Last but certainly not least is climate adaptation
Unfortunately most of our rail network is increasingly disrupted by floods, wind & landslips
By contrast, in 5 years just 9 trains on HS1 delayed due to weather
HS2 is designed to cope with 1in100+ year floods

At first I was a big HS2 sceptic and was only person out of 1000s allowed to petition @HS2Parliament on #ClimateChange
Clear now no other way to get rail capacity we need by 2030s
Net zero requires even higher standards, we must keep pressure up to maximise HS2's green benefits