How Transportation Affects the Environment

Every creature on earth, from curious nifflers to magnificent Zouwus, are impacted by our everyday decisions. 

Our actions matter and can make a world of difference for our planet and its inhabitants. 

To honor these animals and the natural world around us, Phase 4 of our “Wizards For Environmental Protection” campaign was “The Knight Bus Challenge!”

On our social media accounts, we focused on how different modes of transportation affect the environment. We shared a Hogwarts Library-worth of information about cars, buses, airplanes, trains, boats, bikes, and more.

Here’s a recap of what we covered during this exciting week-long period and some bonus content we didn’t include in our social posts!

1. Cars

As much as we all wish we had a flying Ford Anglia, and as much as we wish we could, like Harry and Ron, fly it to Hogwarts to get ourselves back to school, the iconic light blue car is certainly not the best means of travel for the environment.

Cars negatively affect our planet's health in many ways.

Take for example the carbon emissions generated by the millions of people who drive to and from work every day. According to the EPA, a typical car emits approximately 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

That's not to mention the methane and nitrous oxide that also are produced and expelled into the atmosphere from burning gasoline. These emissions contribute to global warming, ocean acidification, and in turn, ecosystem and species destruction.

It's a vicious cycle, all stemming from our dependence on passenger vehicles.

Plus, the oil drilled to create gasoline for cars comes with its own heavy price to pay. The drilling process can cause environmental devastation, as seen in the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010.

Transportation of oil is also fraught with danger to ecosystems and the species that live there. Most notably, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989, causing 250,000 barrels of crude oil to spill into the surrounding environment and killing hundreds of thousands of animals such as seabirds, seals, orcas, and fish. 

But we can all do our part in combating the environmental toll of car usage. If we don't have access to the Floo Network, forgot to refill our pot of Floo Powder, or haven't obtained our license to Apparate yet, we can always carpool, take public transit, walk, or bike.

And, if we find that having a car is a necessity in areas where there is no public transit, we can look for electric cars. There are quite a few of them out there now, and they can even be bought used!

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2. Buses

We have to agree with Arthur Weasley when he says that non-magical transportation is “simply fabulous” and “wonderfully ingenious!"
Over the past year, as people have worked from home and traveled less, air pollution has been reduced. Now that the world is slowly opening up, we would like to encourage you to use your car less in favor of public means of transportation, such as the bus, the subway, trains, or streetcars.

Our World in Data reported that in 2016, the energy used for transport worldwide made up 16.2% of our global greenhouse gas emissions. And this didn't even include the energy used for the manufacturing of vehicles.

Depending on where you live, the sector responsible for the majority of emissions might be different. In the United States and the European Union, road transportation was the second largest contributor in 2016 behind electricity and heat. In Brazil, road transportation came in third behind agriculture and land use.

According to Our World in Data, 60% of road transport in 2016 came from passenger travel, such as cars and motorcycles. 

The Knight Bus turned out to be a handy form of transport for Harry, and buses in general are a great means of getting around for nearly everyone!

While Muggle buses might not be as fast as the Knight Bus when it zigzags between other vehicles, they are a much more efficient form of transportation than individual passenger vehicles. And, more and more bus fleets are running on lower-emission fuel or on electricity.

If more people take the bus, there will be fewer cars on the road, and as a result, less traffic!

Taking the bus instead of your car also means you can relax and enjoy the ride while reading "The Daily Prophet" or listening to ProtegoCast!

We hope you won’t have a bumpy ride!

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3. Airplanes

Unlike flying on a broom, non-magical methods of flying, such as airplanes, are energy-dependent.

According to Carbon Independent, a person will emit one metric ton of CO2 per four hours of air-travel. So, one plane trip lasting for around 8 hours can produce more emissions than some people produce in an entire year! 

To reduce your carbon footprint while travelling, try not to use air travel for places nearby. Opt for charter buses, trains, brooms, Portkeys, or Apparition, which are the more climate-friendly options.

Taking a car and driving solo means your CO2 emissions could be higher than air travel. However, if the whole family or some friends are involved, a road trip would save more energy than if you were to fly.

If you do need to travel by plane, here are a few tips to help reduce your emissions:
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• Purchase "carbon offsets," if available, when booking your flight. These contribute to projects that reduce emissions around the world.
• Use direct flights rather than stopovers.
• Pack light to reduce your fuel usage.
• When you arrive at your destination, choose climate-friendly transportation such as tourist buses and trains to save energy while exploring!

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4. Trains

This is the final call for the 11:00 Hogwarts Express service to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, departing from Platform 9¾!

Did you know that for medium-length distances (typically journey times of 30 to 90 minutes), taking the train instead of your car would reduce your travel emissions by about 80%?

And choosing the train instead of a domestic flight could also lower your emissions by about 84%.

According to an Our World in Data study from 2016, out of various means of transportation, trains have one of the lowest carbon footprints. As such, they are one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel.

Among the 16.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from energy used in transportation, emissions from passenger and cargo rail travel represented only 0.4%.

All aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Perhaps like Ron and Harry, a lifelong friendship will spring out of those three little words: “Anyone sitting there?”

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5. Boats

Traveling by boat can be fun, but did you know that marine environments are greatly disrupted by ships, boats, and other water vessels?

According to the EPA, studies on water quality showed that in trafficked waterways, water was much more likely to be spoiled and polluted.

Leaking fuel can change the water's chemistry, making the marine environment too acidic or alkaline for some organisms to grow. As stated by the European Union, maritime transport emits around 940 million metric tons of CO2 per year and is responsible for about 2.5% of our global greenhouse gas emissions.

Large fishing boats, cruise ships, and cargo ships also hit and harm marine animals on their way through the sea.

If you don't use a boat yourself, consider where it is you shop and what you eat. If you eat fish and other seafood, remember that large fishing boats contribute to oil pollution, CO2 emissions, and plastic waste. Bycatch from fishing results in the deaths of thousands of dolphins, sharks, turtles, and other sea creatures.

Aside from seafood consumption, international imports often arrive by boat, which is a great reason to support local businesses where you can. And if you feel like a trip out by the water, try a slow-moving boat that doesn't use fuel, like a kayak or rowboat.

Why not try the Hogwarts boathouse? A nice paddle on the Black Lake sounds refreshing!

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6. Bikes

While we all love Sirius’s motorbike and wish we could borrow it like Hagrid did, we have to agree that it's not the most environmentally friendly way to travel. 

Instead of a motor vehicle (enchanted or not), why not use a regular bike? 

According to Our World in Data, if you were to swap your car for a bike on short distances, you could reduce your travel emissions by about 75%!

If you’re powered by a plant-based diet, your carbon footprint will also be lowered. In a 2010 article by Mike Berners-Lee for The Guardian, based on his book “How Bad are Bananas: the Carbon Footprint of Everything," he estimated that the carbon footprint of cycling a mile would be:

• 65g of CO2e if powered by bananas
• 200g of CO2e if powered by bacon
• 260g of CO2e if powered by cheeseburgers

CO2e, not to be confused with CO2, is a metric measure used to compare emissions from various greenhouse gases, including but not limited to CO2 and methane. 

Local air and noise pollution will also improve if more people cycle on a regular basis.
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If you don’t own a bike, check out where you can rent or buy one, preferably second-hand.

Besides being better for the environment, there are many advantages to using a bike rather than a motor vehicle, such as:
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• Getting some physical activity
• Improving your mental health
• Enjoying your surroundings
• Easier parking
• Less traffic
• Saving money

So hop on your bike, and if it starts to rain, don’t forget to use the Impervius Charm to repel the water!

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7. Walking

"What would three young Gryffindors such as yourselves be doing inside...on a day like this?"

According to the University of Oxford, shifting away from motorised transport would mean saving a quarter of our personal CO2 emissions. But not only that, walking is a fantastic way to improve our physical and mental health while learning new things along the way! 

Get out your sunscreen, autumn jackets, winter mittens, or spring hats, and get to know your neighborhood. When rushing from one place to the next, we don't take in the magic that's right under our noses. 

Have you ever done a neighborhood scavenger hunt? Why not make a list of things to spot along your next walk? If you're not sure what to look out for, keep an open mind and write broad categories such as "something orange" or "an animal or plant you haven't seen before."

This can be a really fun way of getting to know your neighborhood, whether it be along your way to work, school, or wherever the journey may take you.

Hint: if you're seeing similar magical or non-magical creatures each time, try looking out at different points in the day. Some creatures prefer the nighttime and will only come out when the sun goes down or when you least expect them! 

And if you'd prefer to learn another way, pop on an audiobook or podcast and listen while you walk. This is a great way to unwind and de-stress while getting in your daily exercise! There are podcasts on all topics, including all things magic and animal rights on our very own ProtegoCast! 

Let us know what you spot on your travels. We bet there is something amazing waiting right outside your door! ​

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Helpful Resources
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Books:

• Planning Sustainable Transport by Barry Hutton
• Choked by Beth Gardiner 

Documentaries:

• Transport & Environment

Instagram Pages / Tags:

• Follow #sustainabletransport
• Greenpeace
• MuggleNet’s #NevillesNatureWalk

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​You can calculate your carbon footprint on Carbon Independent's website.

Don’t forget to join our Discord server to chat with other animal lovers and tell us how you make transportation choices that are better for the environment.


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Written by Assya Ahouandjinou, Ruby Shoefield, Valerie Short, and Victoria Tomis

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