The "Green Divide"

Current sustainable transport policies often focus on the adoption of high-cost green technologies as a method to cut emissions and encourage environmental sustainability (Sun et al., 2022). However, while sustainable transport policies are critical in addressing climate goals, some can neglect social inclusion, inadvertently excluding low-income populations (Sharma et al., 2023).

“Connecting Leeds” aims to reduce car dependency by expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, to achieve net-zero by 2030 (Leeds City Council, 2023). Unlike wealthier households, lower-income individuals in Leeds experience difficulties in adopting green technologies due to high EV switching costs, creating a "green divide" where eco-friendly technologies are concentrated in affluent areas, and financial barriers restrict options for disadvantaged groups (Leeds City Council, 2023; Nordin, 2024).

This “green divide” not only highlights socioeconomic disparities but also the exclusion of disadvantaged communities from infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, which are predominantly concentrated in wealthier areas, leading to a lack of access in economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods (Hardman et al., 2021). Leeds City Council has collaborated with providers, like Beiley, to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, with over 500 charging stations established across Leeds’ centre (Foster, 2023). However, this one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability, does not comprehensively address emission reduction, as many marginalised communities continue to rely on traditional, carbon intensive vehicles, either by necessity or due to a lack of alternatives (IEA, 2024).

From a social inclusion standpoint, transport-related carbon emissions pose a socio-economic challenge that disproportionately impacts low-income communities. In Leeds, lower-income groups are frequently exposed to elevated traffic pollution and are often constrained to older, high-emission vehicles, worsening air quality and heightening health risks like respiratory issues (Foster, 2023; Humphrey et al., 2022). These health risks intersect with broader challenges, like increased healthcare costs, missed work and school, and reduced productivity, worsening poverty and quality-of-life disparities (Jiang et al., 2024). Thus, lack of access to green transport not only hinders sustainability goals but also deepens socioeconomic inequities amongst disadvantaged communities (Sanjini et al., 2023).

Therefore, without policies that make green technologies affordable and accessible to all, sustainability efforts risk deepening existing inequalities (Hardman et al., 2021). By applying the Justice Transition Framework, disparities and inequalities can be addressed through policies that balance environmental progress with fairness. This approach advocates for strategies that dismantle financial and logistical barriers, making it easier for lower-income households to partake in sustainability efforts (Sanjini et al., 2023).

For instance, policies like EV infrastructure investments in Leeds city centre, create a socio-economic divide as they favour middle- and high-income individuals, leaving low-income households’ insufficient access to sustainable transport options (Hardman et al., 2021). Instead, approaches should involve subsidies for low-income households, supporting community-based charging networks, and incorporating affordable shared EV programs.

These policies would spread sustainability benefits across demographics, addressing emission disparities by providing financial aid, accessible infrastructure, and support for communities (Haycocks, 2023). This multi-pronged strategy aligns with the Just Transition Framework’s core aim: to create pathways where environmental and economic advancements serve everyone equitably, fostering an inclusive and sustainable transition (Heffron & McCauley, 2018).

Viewing EV accessibility as a matter of social justice reveals a flaw in current sustainable transport policies. Without inclusivity, policies risk marginalising entire demographics, making low-carbon initiatives inaccessible to those most vulnerable to environmental change (Boye and Waskow, 2021). Therefore, to avoid widening these gaps, policies must actively include low-income individuals, ensuring that they can share the health and economic benefits of low-carbon transport (Fleming, 2018). This would help mitigate socio-economic disparities, creating an equitable path to sustainability that allows everyone to participate in, and benefit from the transition to green mobility in Leeds.

 

 

Reference List

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