Cuts to SEPTA threaten climate progress, and will make our air dirtier and hotter

With the federal government backtracking on the critical fight against climate change, it is more important than ever for cities like Philadelphia to double down on climate action. We are already experiencing more frequent and more severe storms, flooding, and overall hotter temperatures, a trend that will only continue unless we dramatically reduce global carbon emissions.

Philadelphia has made great strides on this front, with the most recent greenhouse gas inventory indicating a 10% decrease in emissions between 2019 and 2022. However, that progress would be imperiled if SEPTA is forced to make extreme cuts to service due to the budget shortfall it faces.

With 28% of Philadelphia’s carbon emissions coming from the transportation sector, increasing the use of no- and low-carbon transportation options — like public transit — is critical for the city to meet its climate goals. According to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the proposed SEPTA service cuts would add 275,000 cars to the roads, creating not only a commuting nightmare but also increasing overall carbon emissions by 1%.

And while that may not seem like much, that 1% would equal the entire electricity consumption of about 26,000 homes for one year. At a time when drastic reductions are needed, any move that increases emissions would be disastrous in the long run.

Those additional cars on the road will also result in increased air pollutants that damage public health and lead to increased hospitalizations, missed days of school, and even death. Philadelphia already suffers from high rates of ozone and particulate matter. This additional traffic, equivalent to the entire population of Pittsburgh, will further harm the 20% of Philadelphia children with asthma as well as others with respiratory and other chronic diseases.

Have you ever walked by cars idling in traffic and felt the blast of heat coming from them? Now imagine those additional 275,000 cars and their hot exhaust during a hot summer day. Beyond the regular urban heat island effect that already makes the city hotter than our surrounding suburbs, Philadelphia’s low-income and disadvantaged communities can be as much as 22 degrees hotter than the rest of the city.

A robust public transportation system is the backbone of a vibrant city, providing an affordable, clean, safe, and fast way to get to work, school, shopping, entertainment and more. SEPTA connects us with one another and with the rest of the region.

It is incumbent on every resident to ask their elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels to find a sustainable funding solution. A thriving SEPTA is a vitally important tool in the fight against climate change and for the protection of the environmental health of our city.

Christine Knapp is a climate and sustainability professional who served as Philadelphia’s director of sustainability from 2016 to 2022. She lives in Passyunk Square with her husband and daughter.