Defining a New Rail Sustainability Blueprint

Listen to the podcast

Topics in this episode include:

• George talks about the broad scope of sustainability, its definition, and its primary elements [0:55]
• George about how Sir David Attenborough ignited his passion for the environment, and about the impact of reducing biodiversity [2:59]
• George talks about how pandemics are a result of human activity, and the climate emergency that we find ourselves in [4:19]
• George explains how he is transitioning from aviation to the railway and the issues that need to be addressed [5:42]
• George sets out what he sees to be rail's challenges for sustainability, including the introduction of hydrogen and battery power to trains [8:22]
• George talks about solutions that will deliver social benefit, including the transfer of freight off the roads [9:53]
• George talks about how he sees delivering rail's strategic objectives, including defining the Sustainable Rail Blueprint: its strategic direction, the technical solutions, and communications needed to engage the whole industry [11:36]
• George talks about what he sees to be the way to set out the 'flagship industry goals' on carbon, air quality, social impact, and biodiversity and the route maps to achieve them [14:34]
• George talks about his mission to demystify sustainability and make it an accessible topic [16:27]
• George talks about the industry groups and sectors that he will need to engage with to achieve the strategy's goals [17:43]
• George talks about the need to engage with rolling stock owners and leasing companies [19:25]
• George talks about the importance of working with central and devolved governments, and with charitable organisations [20:24]
• Close [21:57]

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Online explanations of a 'stranded asset' in an environmental context:
  • Wikipedia 
  • London School of Economics – Grantham Institute
• Carbon Tracker

Other related resources:

• The RSSB Sustainability web page
• The RSSB Decarbonisation web page