Transport Needs - Activity Instructions

What makes your world liveable? How can your transport choices improve liveability? In this activity, you will investigate the relationship between transport and the environment.

Note: This activity doesn't require deep background knowledge of climate change; however, if your kid/s are unfamiliar with the concept of climate change and want to know more, consider sharing this clip with them:

Click to watch: 2040 – Biodiversity Sketch (Password: 2040_EDU)

Alternatively, you could provide the Climate Change Factsheet.

Liveability is the qualities of a place that contribute to the quality of life in that place. Different aspects of liveability are important to different people in different ways.

Part A: What Is ‘Liveability’?

Step 1.

a moment to think about what makes your world liveable.

Consider these three components of liveability:

Cultural liveability: what people believe, values, identity, art, wellbeing, happiness (e.g. place of worship, community house, art classes, parks)
Social liveability: equity, low corruption, welfare, employment, economy, diversity, safety (e.g. courts of law, social benefits, workplaces, emergency services)
Physical liveability: mobility, transportation, energy, food systems, waste management, natural resources, environment, buildings and infrastructure (e.g. trains, roads, farms, rubbish collection, park, reservoir)

Note: If you want to find out more about the concept of ‘liveability’, watch this clip (1:43).

Step 2.

Have a look around the house (and garden if you have one). What do you want in the place where you live? If possible, extend this investigation beyond your front door, to the driveway or around your block, and look for elements of liveability. You should come up with a list of cultural, social and physical elements. Record your thoughts.

Part B: How Can Transport Choices Improve Liveability?

Transport affects liveability in a number of ways, including allowing us to connect with our friends, family and community. In addition, we need transport to access goods and services and to bring goods and services to us.

Step 1.

Think about how you and your family use transport:

• What type of transport do you use to get to school every day (e.g. car, bus, train, bike, walking, etc.)?

• What is the number of days in the last week you DIDN’T travel in a car?

• How many cars do you have at home?

• What type of transport do you enjoy the most?

Step 2.

Record your thoughts on the following question:

• How can your transport choices improve liveability?

Part C: Thinking Forward

The importance of liveability factors varies between individuals, such as older people, and regions such as city/country.

Step 1.

Calculate your ages in the year 2040, 2060 and 2080. Do you think you might make different transport choices in the year 2040? Why? What about the year 2060 or 2080? Think about the following questions:

What are your transport needs?
What is the main form of transport you rely upon?
- Is this main form of transport sustainable?
- What kind of infrastructure does it rely upon?
- Is it affordable for all people?
- Is it accessible for all people?
- Does it offer opportunities to connect with other people?
What are some of the transport issues you might face?

Record your responses here:

Step 2.

Think about what changes we could make to the types of transport that we currently use to improve liveability. This might mean that you think about new forms of transport or even futuristic types of transport. These forms of transport might look quite different from what we have now.

Add your ideas to the mind-map below under the three headings ‘Existing transport’, ‘New transport’ and ‘Imaginary transport’.

Note: If you want some help thinking about a better transport future, watch one of these clips from the film, 2040: What’s Your 2040 - For Transport?, which shows some younger students from around the world, or 2040 - Transport of the Future, which explores the future of transport. The password for these clips is: 2040_EDU. As you watch these clips, record anything you observe that relates to liveability or sustainability.

Step 3.

What type of transport provides the best liveability?

Select the type of transport you think provides the best liveability from the ideas you generated in the mind-map activity. List the reasons for your selection.

Taking It Further

Did you know that Melbourne, Australia, was voted the world's most liveable city eight years in a row on The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index? Vienna, Austria, took the top spot in 2018. You can find out more about this ranking system here: EIU Global Liveability Index

Visit this City of Melbourne website: City of Melbourne - Liveability and quality of life

Make a plan for how you will plan your town or city so it can win the world’s most liveable city in 2040.

2040 - Transport Needs

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