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Resource and Environmental Management
Earth Day Spotlight: SFU researchers continue push for greener commutes
2025 aims to bring global attention to renewable energy and the production of more clean electricity. Researchers in SFU鈥檚 Sustainable Transportation Action Research Team () are actively working towards this transition.
SFU-START is an interdisciplinary research collaborative within the Faculty of Environment鈥檚 School of Resource and Environmental Management that spans economics, engineering, marketing, policy and psychology and engages governments, industry and communities to advance sustainable transportation systems.
Zoe Long, a PhD candidate and research manager in SFU-START, says that transitioning the transportation sector to renewable energy is necessary to meet Canada鈥檚 goal of .
鈥淕lobally, the transportation sector emits 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The same is true for Canada, but in B.C., transportation accounts for 40 percent of our emissions,鈥� she says.
This high contribution of greenhouse gas emissions seems alarming, but Long explains that we have the resources required to bring these down.
鈥淲e already have ample renewable electricity. Our grid in B.C. is almost fully renewable, and Canada is on its way to decarbonizing the larger grid. If we can accelerate transportation using that clean electricity grid, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially,鈥� says Long.
However, Long notes that considerable barriers to a swift transition to more sustainable transportation systems remain. These include existing infrastructures that cater to fossil fuel transportation systems, corporate interests, consumer needs, public sentiment and more.
鈥淭here are a lot of systematic challenges to address if we want to achieve a kind of utopian transportation system, it requires systems change,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e also face challenges to get people into electric vehicles immediately including their initial cost, charging infrastructure and people鈥檚 habits.鈥�
Long and members of SFU-START tackle these challenges in their research to inform effective sustainable transportation policy aimed at provincial and federal levels.
Findings from this team have been used to inform low-carbon transportation policies including the low carbon fuel standard and electric vehicle sales mandates and purchase subsidies.
Long is also an academic expert on the B.C. Government鈥檚 Zero Emissions Vehicle Advisory Council where she directly advises the provincial government on their sustainable transportation policy.
鈥淧olicy is everything. We need to design policies that make it so the cheapest, most convenient option for people is the lowest carbon one,鈥� says Long.
Long鈥檚 particular expertise lies in understanding consumer behaviour to better inform how policies can be effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. She looks at the effectiveness of sustainable transportation policies like the carbon tax and subsidy programs, as well as how politically acceptable they are.
Her current research is focused on Canada鈥檚 policy requiring 100 percent of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at it from a consumer standpoint. I鈥檓 working to really understand the perspectives of people who may not want electric vehicles and what their needs are so we can ensure a smooth transition to 100 percent of sales,鈥� says Long.
Advancing sustainable transportation research will play an important role in ensuring we have strong, effective policies in place to help us reach our emissions targets.
In addition, there are important parts that individuals can play in this transition.
鈥淚n terms of addressing these systematic barriers, voting in the upcoming federal election for the political party that best represents a chance at climate action is really important,鈥� says Long.
While more work is needed to continue progress towards a renewable energy powered transportation sector, people鈥檚 excitement over this shift in technology keeps Long hopeful.
鈥淲e used to only see environmentalists driving electric vehicles but now, in a lot of cases, it鈥檚 the cool thing to do or even the more logical and cheaper thing to do. That carries momentum and it's causing things to accelerate, and that that makes me really hopeful,鈥� says Long. 鈥淚nches are miles in this game. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. There's a lot of good work going on that's happening right now. It's not super visible to people all the time, and it's not perfect, but it's still really good.鈥�