Thread by @HS2ltd

Did you know - The #carbonfootprint of 120 years of HS2’s railway between London and the West Midlands (including construction & operation) will be equivalent to less than 1 month’s UK road emissions?
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Climate Change poses the biggest threat to the UK’s environment. #HS2 is an important part of the Britain’s response and will help us meet our commitment to reach #netzero by 2050.
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HS2 will free up extra space on the existing rail network. It will take cars and lorries off the road and reduce the need for domestic air travel. This will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and improve air quality.
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In 2017, for the first time, the transport sector overtook the energy sector to become the UK’s largest #carbon emitter. Transport was responsible for producing 27% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
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Car use has grown 28% since 1990, equivalent to an extra 73 billion vehicle miles. Getting people out of their cars, taking freight off our roads and reducing domestic aviation is a key part of the fight against #climatechange. gov.uk/government/sta…
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#HS2 will offer some of the lowest carbon emissions per passenger km - 7 times less than passenger cars and 17 times less than domestic air travel. Getting more cars and lorries off our roads will also help clean up the air we breathe in our towns and cities.
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HGVs carrying freight on our roads are particularly polluting. HGVs account for some 17% of all #carbon emissions from road transport, while making up just 5% of total vehicle miles. Every extra freight train freed up by HS2 takes up to 76 lorries off our roads.
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Data from the International Energy Agency shows how high speed rail encourages shifts from air to rail. Find out more: iea.org/reports/the-fu…
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HS2 will offer #zerocarbon journeys to over 300,000 people a day, once electricity generation is fully decarbonised.
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HS2 is critical for the UKs low-carbon transport future. It will provide much-needed rail capacity up and down the country and is integral to rail projects in the North and Midlands which will help rebalance the UK economy.
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