There is no question that urban roads and the level of vehicle traffic they carry affects water quality in receiving environments. It has been estimated that 10% of all microplastics in the oceans are derived from tyre wear, and sediments, heavy metals and hydrocarbons are washed into our streams and rivers every time it rains. The question needs to be asked, what would our future transport networks look like if we placed improving water quality outcomes as the primary driver?

The Sustainability Society is hosting a series of three webinar panels in February 2021 to investigate this question.

Our mobility through a water quality lens series will start with this session which explores our current transport paradigm and the pressure that we place on local environments, as well as considering what it means to measure water quality from western science and mātauranga Māori perspectives.

The next webinar will look at a low impact public transport network and how, when we start with water quality outcomes in mind, the concept of green tracking of light rail can provide a multitude of additional benefits. Finally, our third webinar will investigate active mode travel, low traffic neighbourhoods and how introducing quality blue space back into our urban environments can improve quality of life.

Throughout the series our fantastic speaker line-up will provide provocative discussions on how we design our future transport networks, while weaving kaitiakitanga, mātauranga Māori and community into our future urban freshwater systems and addressing our climate emergency.