Next day deliveries, holidays and quicker journeys are just some of the things people from the Midlands are willing to give up to help tackle climate change, according to a new report.
New research by Midlands Connect - which is the transport partner of the Midlands Engine - found that 86 per cent of people living in the region are ready to make big changes to their lifestyle to help make the º£½ÇÊÓƵ a more environmentally-friendly place to live.
The survey of 5,000 residents in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Leicester, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Derby, Lincoln, Worcester and Hereford found that nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of people believe that climate change is the biggest issue facing humanity today, while 69 per cent of people don't think we are doing enough to tackle the problem.
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When questioned about what changes they would be willing to make to reduce emissions, 54 per cent said they would forgo next day delivery so that online shopping orders can be consolidated and delivered in a more environmentally-friendly way, while almost half (45 per cent) would forgo a holiday and four in ten people (41 per cent) would make more journeys via public transport where possible - even if the journey takes longer or requires multiple modes of transport.
Elsewhere, 77 per cent of car owners said they would consider buying an electric vehicle next, while nearly four in 10 people think electric vehicles and petrol and diesel cars should cost the same by the end of 2025 - and over a quarter thought they should cost the same by next year.
Nearly eight in 10 people said they would take fewer trips by car to help play their part to tackle climate change.
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Maria Machancoses, chief executive of Midlands Connect said: "As we prepare to host the UN's annual climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow, it's essential that we redouble our efforts to decarbonise the transport network. We know the industry has been slower to reduce its emissions than some others, but I am confident we now have the technology, expertise and willing to make change happen.
"This research shows that people want to tackle climate change, and the majority believe it is the most critical issue facing us today. However, while it's encouraging that most people say they are prepared to make big and tough decisions, impacting on their daily lives, to meet that challenge, we need to bring in the policies and infrastructure needed to turn these good intentions into action.
"Whether it be switching to an electric vehicle, consolidating online shopping deliveries or using public transport more often, the actions of individuals will make a big difference as we strive to meet our net-zero targets."
