Revolutionizing Transport: Creating Greener roads for Gurugram!

While I was in New York City this summer break, it was very insightful, as we almost walked everywhere we could. I realized that although walking a lot can be tiring for a lot of us, I felt inspired to see how much CO2 emissions and fuel we could save this way, and how much we actually need, rather than using our car for everything due to comfort and ease. In Queens, we went on a nature trail walk for about an hour. It was extremely hot, there were mosquitos, and we had no water left. The main reason we got tired was that the culture in that city was to walk every day, but in India, we rely on private vehicles for so many tasks and commutes. I could see people far beyond my age so comfortable walking from place to place, some with their hands full of grocery bags. I felt so tired, despite my active lifestyle of playing sports every day. That was then when my realization skyrocketed on how important it was for us in Gurugram to integrate green transport as a part of our daily lifestyle.

Mobility is the key to what we do each day. And transportation helps us explore, learn and makes commuting easier, from going to offices in the morning, to going on trips. 

However, unfortunately, in India, transportation is a significant contributor to air pollution, especially in densely populated urban cities. According to the IEA, International Energy Agency, “road transport itself presently accounts for 12.9% of India’s energy related CO2 emissions,” and as India seeks to meet the demand for private mobility, the emissions could almost double by 2050. Just to put in numbers, IEA states that’s 324.8 million tonnes emitted by the transportation sector in 2022, and it has only grown since then.

It is the need of the hour, for each and every one of us to incorporate green transportation into our daily lives, and it is not necessary to buy electric vehicles, while they do have a large impact. Here are some small actions we can implement in our daily lives, to reduce the burden of India’s CO2 emissions on our atmosphere.

Firstly, we need to build resilience. While we all have extremely busy schedules, and do face a lot of stress due to work, we must give up the ease of going by car to places near our homes in daytime. I know, it’s a lot to ask for, but we have reached the stage where it’s a promise we must learn to fulfill. 

This brings me to the second step (quite literally) which is walking, nature’s very own transport. For our planet, for our health and safety, we must make walking to places near our homes a must. A mid-size car in a 5 minute journey (1.5 km approx.) can release up to 1 kg of CO2, according to MyClimate. Just imagine if we can save a kilogram of CO2 emissions each time we walk to the marketplace, or to a friend’s house in the neighbourhood. 

Lastly, cycling is a true gift, and is perfectly adapted to both what the planet needs, and our modern lifestyles. Here’s how. A lot of us, from teenagers, to adults have a gym routine early in the morning. In addition to that, cycling is brilliant for building fitness levels, such as strength in the leg muscles, improved cardiovascular health, and posture. Countries like the Netherlands and Denmark heavily follow cycling, and it reduces traffic and congestion, as well as contributes to a more sustainable environment. In Copenhagen, Denmark, cycling saves the city an estimated 90,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. While I acknowledge, at a city level, we have a challenging road ahead, given our current infrastructure, and it is not suitable for us to cycle on the main roads. However, if we build the culture of cycling within communities like Nirvana Country, it will help us begin to mitigate our emissions, while also promoting good health.

The big lessons I have learnt from these practices are that we must be responsible to build a more sustainable city. The change starts with us, and while it may seem like a sacrifice, it is creating a better future for all of us - we can see it in so many countries as a living example. Green transport promotes sustainability by lowering carbon emissions, encouraging efficient resource use, and fostering healthier communities. It is a way to build more organized roads, cleaner skies, a healthier Gurugram, and a greener tomorrow.