Transport

Transportation provides the vital link between a business and the outside world. Although our society is gradually becoming more computerised, the vast majority of goods and services must be transported. Transportation brings employees, carries raw materials from suppliers, brings repair services, takes finished products and services to consumers and generally allows the business to function. Unfortunately transportation also results in significant emissions and therefore must be considered by SMEs ready to combat climate change.
   
Transport emissions decreased by 3.5% from 11.29 Mt CO2eq in 2011 to 10.90 Mt CO2eq in 2012. This is the fifth year in a row that a decrease in transport sector emissions has been reported following significant growth up to 2007; transport emissions in 2012 were 24.7% lower compared with 2007. The decrease primarily reflects the impact of the economic downturn plus the changes in vehicle registration tax and road tax introduced in mid-2008 (EPA, 2013). In addition, the Biofuels Obligation Scheme started operation in mid-2010 with biofuels displacing petrol and diesel use in the transport sector. Emissions in 2012 however were still 113% higher than the 1990 transport emissions, so a sharp focus on this area is still very much a necessity.

Although the above data relates to other sectors such as industry and agriculture, the figures clearly indicate a huge increase in transportation emissions, some of which are clearly related to SMEs.

Transportation is an absolute necessity for the operation and development of SMEs in Ireland, but is also an area that must be addressed in terms of reducing emissions and Ireland’s impact on climate change. The proximity of business to customers, markets, distribution networks, employees and suppliers can have a huge effect on the amount of transportation related emissions from a business.