Beyond the many mental, physical and community health benefits of walking, it can also result in a number of benefits for the environment.
These benefits may not be immediately visible, but over time walking can contribute to the sustainability of our communities, the places we work, and the places we recreate. Increasing the number of local trips we take on foot rather than in a vehicle — and making an effort to stay local and reduce our carbon footprint — can result in long term benefits for our local and global communities.
Here are 3 reasons walking helps the natural and physical environment, and us.
Improves Air Quality
When choosing walking over other modes of transportation (such as a car), we reduce the number of harmful emissions created and released into the atmosphere. These emissions damage the natural and physical environments, in addition to impacting our physical health.
According to the BC Government’s website on Climate Action, “Emissions from the transportation sector have grown 42% since 1990 and made up 37% of BC’s total GHG emissions in 2005. Within the sector, 60% of these emissions came from road vehicles, and most of the road vehicle emissions came from light passenger vehicles.” Read more >>
By choosing walking for small and local trips, we greatly contribute to the overall reduction of air pollution and contribute to an improvement in air quality, benefiting the overall health of the environment and ourselves.
The COVID-19 pandemic has improved pollution levels across BC and the globe. Read more >>
Less Demand for Motor Vehicles
Canadians on average use almost more energy than any other country in the world — one of the reasons is our heavy reliance on motor vehicles. For many of us living in urban areas, many of our shorter trips can be taken on foot, bike or public transit. These shorter trips are particularly harmful to the environment with increased levels of fuel consumption (through frequently turning on the ignition, traffic congestion and idling), producing higher rates of harmful emissions. Read more >>
By reducing the need for motor vehicles we can directly influence the reduction in manufacturing and sales, which can result in less carbon-intensity in the manufacturing and supply chains. These changes over time can have a significant effect on the reduction of harmful emissions and air pollution resulting in better air quality.
“The millions of Canadians who drive vehicles every day can take steps to help reduce fuel use, CO2 emissions and slow down the rate of climate change. The solutions include actions such as carefully planning trips by combining errands, driving at the posted speed limits, avoiding jack rabbit starts and stops, maintaining proper tire pressure, or even walking or taking a bus instead of the car.” Read more >>
Lowers Noise Levels
Greater pedestrian traffic and lower vehicle traffic can help to reduce noise pollution. Noise pollution affects the health of the environment and people, and can discourage wildlife and vegetation from coming into urban areas.
“It [noise] can affect an animal’s ability to hear or make it difficult for it to find food, locate mates and avoid predators. It can also impair its ability to navigate, communicate, reproduce and participate in normal behaviours.” Read more>>
Significant noise can also discourage walking as a viable alternative to driving and reduces the quality of life for those living in high traffic areas. “Exposure to prolonged or excessive noise has been shown to cause a range of health problems ranging from stress, poor concentration, productivity losses in the workplace, and communication difficulties and fatigue from lack of sleep, to more serious issues such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, tinnitus and hearing loss.” Read more>>
Walking more and driving less can contribute to making neighbourhoods more desirable. Read more >>
