Reducing emissions Driving to neutral Peter ODriscoll, UK country manager for RingGo, offers 10 steps to lowering carbon emissions n todays climate-conscious culture, taking a stand on becoming carbon neutral is commonplace. From Microsofts pledge to be carbon negative by 20201, to Sainsburys 1bn commitment towards the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to 1.5C2, everyone is coming up with plans to reach the net-zero holy grail. While large, private organisations dedicate time, people and money to this aim, there are many things the rest of us can do. I 1. Introduce emissions-based parking Where it has been implemented, emissions-based parking (EBP) has reduced the most-polluting diesel vehicles by 13-20 per cent. Specifically, there has been an estimated 250,000 fewer journeys per year made in Westminster because of EBP3, and the level of nitrogen dioxide in central London has dropped by 38 per cent in the two years since EBP was introduced. 2. C ut out parking machines Removing machines has countless environmental benefits. From reducing journeys for collections, banking, maintenance and repair, to minimising electricity and paper, the savings all mount up. 3. Install/promote electric vehicle (EV) charging points If EV purchases are to increase, motorists need to know where they can find charging points. Once installed, their location can be promoted via a simple parking app. 4. Eliminate location circling Solutions that help motorists find a parking space quickly and easily reduce journey times and minimise pollution. By highlighting places with the greatest availability, showing EV charging points, and directing motorists to them via the least-congested route, emissions can be cut considerably. 5. Park and Ride for the environment As ultra-low emissions zones (ULEZs) and clean air zones (CAZs) increase, parking hot spots will gravitate further out of town. To get ahead of this, we should identify new parking locations for commuters, promote existing Park and Ride with cashless payments, and offer flexible solutions to make transport combinations work for everyone. 22 britishparking.co.uk PN Mar20 pp22-23 RingGo Feature.indd 22 20/02/2020 16:26