LNER presenter Kate Humble unveiled a waiting room for the future at Edinburgh Waverley Station. The Our Planet Can’t Wait-ing Room comes after research revealed almost a third (30 per cent) of people in Scotland are baffled by the terminology used in climate conversations.

‘Carbon pricing’, ‘carbon budget’ and ‘carbon accounting’ cause the most confusion, with 28 per cent of Scots admitting they are prepared to bluff their way through explaining what environmental terms mean regardless – because they’re too afraid to ask what they mean.

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of people in Scotland claim they never consider the environmental impact of their travel. Three in five (62 per cent) have no clue how to compare the emissions associated with travelling on planes, trains or cars.

However, in this research commissioned by LNER, more than a quarter (29 per cent) said they would be likely to change how they plan their holidays if they thought it would benefit the environment – showcasing the positive impact better education about carbon terminology could have.

In response to the findings, LNER today unveiled a pop-up waiting room with a difference, open for one day only, at Edinburgh Waverley Station to inspire people to consider travelling in a more sustainable way. A sign of the commitment LNER has to helping its customers make more sustainable travel choices, the ‘Our Planet Can’t Wait-ing Room’ is a free experience exhibiting cutting-edge environmental initiatives pioneered by LNER and its partners. Visitors can discover the secret air purifying superpowers of algae technology being trialled at Berwick-Upon-Tweed station, turn plastic waste into products through 3D printing, make a selection from a pick ‘n’ mix seed wall, and take part in a plant-a-thon.

Presenter Kate Humble launched the experience in her role as the LNER ‘Carbon Saving Conductor’ and led local children in a plant-a-thon as well as sharing her sustainable travel tips.

The space also features the LNER Carbon Saving Departures Board, a traditional split-flap travel information board – surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers native to Scotland -with a contemporary twist. The board equates the emissions that passengers save travellingsouthbound by train with LNER (as opposed to car and plane) via Edinburgh Waverley on a typical day to easily recognisable objects, animals and places including Highland cows and the Loch Ness monster, enabling everyone to see the positive impact of travelling by train.

Commenting from Edinburgh Waverley Station, Kate Humble said: “It’s so important we all do our bit to take steps to minimise our impact on the environment. But it’s really hard to do that when you don’t understand all the jargon that people use when talking about carbon and emissions.

“Being armed with the facts is the first step we can take in being more sustainable. This experience is a fantastic way to raise awareness of the effect of our travel choices on the environment and to share more information about what you can do to be more sustainable – especially for kids.

“Educating them when they’re young gives us the best possible chance of enjoying our amazing planet for generations to come.”

Warrick Dent, Responsible Business Chair at LNER, said: “We brought our Carbon Saving Departures Board to Edinburgh after our research revealed people in Scotland are eager to learn more about carbon emissions and how to be more sustainable.

“Our ambition is to be the most responsible way to travel for generations to come, so we’re working hard to embed sustainability into everything we do. Companies like ours need to make it easier to grasp, which is why we’re making it simpler to understand the environmental impact of our travel choices.”

On a typical day this summer, passengers travelling south from Edinburgh Waverley Stationwith LNER will save a cumulative 518,123 kg of CO₂ emissions by travelling by train instead of by plane or car: the equivalent volume of 113 Olympic swimming pools of CO₂, or the weight of a very healthy herd of 1,151 Highland cows!

LNER launches this initiative during one of the busiest periods for travel for the company. During the Fringe Festival last year (Friday 4 Aug 2023 to Monday 28 Aug 2023), LNER welcomed more than 140,000 customers onboard its services between Edinburgh and London King’s Cross.

For more information about sustainability initiatives from LNER and the most sustainable travel options this summer, check out the LNER Green Guides at www.lner.co.uk/our-destinations/travel-inspiration/green-guides/