Why is this important?
Light vehicles, including passenger cars, account for about a third of global oil demand and produce about half of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Public transport is an efficient alternative to the car and contributes to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.(1)
Key actions
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#1 Incentives
Offer financial incentives such as a public transport rebate (e.g. reimburse 50%).
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#2 Guarantee ride home
Guarantee ride home in the case of an unexpected event (eg. up to 5x per year).
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#3 Premises
Choose premises close to public transport.
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#4 Flexibility
Be flexible or adapt working hours to the arrival times of trains.
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#5 Municipal encouragement
Encourage the municipality to improve the public transport network.
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#6 Partnership
In areas where no safe public transport is available, consider providing a shuttle service for employees. Partner with other interested organisations in the vicinity. Go for electric and avoid diesel.
To consider
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Potential co-benefits
- Reduction of car-related costs
- Reduction of traffic congestion, stress, air pollution and noise
- More space to cyclists and pedestrians
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Success conditions
- Communication on incentives from the organisation and the authorities
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Prerequisites & specificities
- Access to public transport near workplace
- Working hours that fit to public transport schedules
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Potential risks
- Subject to the uncertainties of transport (e.g. delays, strikes)
- Thefts in transportation
- Safety risks in certain areas
Tools and good practices
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Evaluate the impact of your travels, ADEME, 2025, (FR)
This calculator compares cycling, driving, travelling by train and travelling by plane based on the number of kilometres to be travelled.
Explore here -
How to be environmentally responsible at work, 2025, ADEME, (FR)
Guide to eco-responsibility in the office, including when commuting.
Explore here -
Understand the impact of your commute, WWF
A trip planner to help you understand and improve the impact of your commute.
Explore here
To go further
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Reducing the impact of commuting, WWF, 2017
This resource provides tips to reduce the impact of your commute.
Explore here -
Mobility plans: a guide for companies and institutions, Métropole Lémanique
This guide provides support to companies wishing to establish a mobility plan, and supports the development of a collaborative corporate mobility network.
Explore here
Featured items
Transport
Commuting
Teleworking
Soft mobility
Car use rationalisation
Sources
(1) ICCT20, ‘Light vehicles’, ICCT20, Available here, (accessed 19 August 2025).
(2) WWF, ‘Reducing the impact of commuting’, WWF, 2017, Available here, (accessed 19 August 2025).
(3) ADEME, ‘Calculer les émissions de carbone de vos trajets’, ADEME, 2025, Available here, (accessed 19 August 2025).
(4) Carbon Independent,’Emissions from bus travel’, Carbon Independent, 2025, Available here, (accessed 21 October 2025).
(5) European Environment Agency, ‘CO2 emissions from performance of new passenger cars in Europe’, European Environment Agency, 2024, Available here, (accessed 21 Ocgtober 2025).
(6) Métropole Lémanique, ‘Mobility plans: a guide for companies and institutions’, Métropole Lémanique, 2021, Available here, (accessed 19 August 2025).
(7) Infomaniak, ‘We pollute’, Infomaniak, Available here, (accessed 19 August 2025).
(8) Blogs ICRC, ‘Sustainable transport’, ICRC, Available here, (accessed 21 October 2025).
Acknowledgements
Last updated 18th of August 2025.
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Cover photo © Melanie Brown/Unsplash.