LNER Launches Its First Ever Carbon Saving Departures Board To Help Demystify ‘Carbon Jargon’

New research shows 75 per cent of Brits admit to finding the terminology used in climate conversations so confusing they’re struggling to see what changes they need to make to live a more sustainable life.

A study of 2,000 adults, commissioned by LNER, found that expressions such as ‘net zero’ and ‘carbon offsetting’ are amongst the phrases people find the most difficult to understand or apply to their daily lives.

To help raise awareness of the issue and provide clarity to our carbon confusion, LNER has unveiled its first ‘Carbon Saving Departures Board’ – a new initiative designed to demystify carbon jargon and help passengers to make more sustainable travel choices this summer.

60 per cent of respondents couldn’t explain what a carbon footprint is and 54 per cent weren’t sure of the best way to reduce their emissions – despite 90 per cent of respondents saying they would like to limit their impact on the planet by reducing their carbon emissions.

The study showed one in five blame their ‘carbon confusion’ on not being taught about carbon terminology and what it means at school. And two fifths (41 per cent) say they’d like to see more awareness about carbon and the environment taught in educational establishments.

The Carbon Saving Departures Board is a traditional split-flap travel information board with a contemporary twist. The board equates the emissions that passengers save travelling by train with LNER from London King’s Cross on a typical day (as opposed to car and plane) to easily recognisable objects, making it simpler to understand their positive impact in a tangible way.

LNER also announced the appointment of its new ‘Carbon Saving Conductor’, presenter Kate Humble, who’s on a mission to cut through the nation’s carbon confusion, demystify ‘carbon jargon’, and inspire everybody to travel more sustainably.

Kate was on-site chatting to passengers, explaining how the Carbon Saving Departures Board works, sharing her top sustainable travel tips and posing for photos with fans.

Commenting on the campaign, Kate Humble said: “Carbon confusion can happen to any of us, and there’s a lot to take on board.

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world, and I always look for ways to holiday responsibly – from supporting local businesses and minimising waste, to picking more sustainable ways to travel.

“Knowing the steps you can take to reduce your carbon impact can be really powerful. With this campaign, we want to make it easier to understand the effect of our travel choices on the environment, so we can be more informed and armed with all the information.”

LNER has launched the campaign during a time when many will be considering travel options for their summer holidays.

In fact, when it comes to their upcoming holiday plans, 30 per cent of those surveyed said they’d be willing to tweak their arrangements to help benefit the environment. And those aged 18 to 34 were more than twice as likely as over-55s to do this (47 per cent vs 22 per cent).

Warrick Dent, Responsible Business Chair at LNER, said: “There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to carbon and understanding what various terms mean.

“Companies like ours need to make it easier to grasp, which is why we’re making it simpler to understand the environmental impact of our travel choices this summer with a new campaign to close the ‘carbon confusion gap’.

“Our Carbon Saving Departures Board compares the carbon emissions of trains departing the station, versus planes and cars, to make it simpler to understand the environmental impact of our summer travel choices.”

On a typical day this summer, passengers departing from London King’s Cross with LNER will save a cumulative 905,444 kg of CO₂ emissions by travelling by train instead of by plane or car: the equivalent volume of 198 Olympic swimming pools of CO₂, or the average yearly equivalent of heating 387 UK homes.

From London King’s Cross, Conductor Kate will take the Carbon Saving Departures Board to Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, just in time for Fringe Festival, where it will be in situ at the ‘Our Planet Can’t Waiting Room’ experience – showcasing pioneering sustainable initiatives from LNER – on Wednesday 7th August. The board will then be displayed at an LNER managed station.

For more information about sustainability initiatives from LNER and the most sustainable travel options this summer, check out the LNER Green Guides at www.lner.co.uk/our-destinations/travel-inspiration/green-guides/