Most of the trips we take are short and routine. To work. To school. To the gym. When more people walk, bike, or take public transit, everyone in society benefits: individuals, employers, the community—and the planet. Green travel plans are an approach that uses encouragement and smart measures to make it easier to travel sustainably in everyday life. Today, we’re launching a comprehensive resource on our website that makes it easy to get started.
Emissions from domestic transport account for just over one-third of Sweden’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Road traffic accounts for the largest share, with passenger cars dominating and accounting for approximately 20 percent of emissions. At the same time, national travel surveys show that everyday travel is extensive. How we choose to get to work, school, and activities every day therefore has a significant impact on our ability to reduce emissions. This is where Green Travel Plans can help.
Linköping, Lund, and Östersund are among the cities that are already successfully implementing Green Travel Plans to promote sustainable daily travel. Together with SKR and a number of other cities, we have now compiled their experiences and insights, practical tools, methods, documents, and best practices on our website. This material is intended to inspire and guide other cities and their local stakeholders in their joint efforts to implement and further develop Green Travel Plans.
“Green travel plans are a concrete and positive way for us to work together to reduce climate emissions from everyday travel. When employers, property owners, and municipalities collaborate, it becomes easier for more people to choose sustainable travel options, which both improves public health and reduces the strain on the transportation system. At the same time, this work provides valuable insights into how we plan the cities, workplaces, and mobility solutions of the future. Commuting accounts for a large portion of the congestion in our cities, making it a key factor in creating accessible, attractive, and growing cities.”
– says Sandra Viktor, Process Manager for Climate-Neutral Linköping 2030
Implementing Green Travel Plans brings many benefits to everyone in society. It helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leads to a range of other positive effects, such as smoother daily travel, improved accessibility, better public health, inclusion, and gender equality. Evaluations of travel to areas with Green Travel Plans show, among other things, reduced congestion and lower greenhouse gas emissions over time. The travel plans have also created a clear forum for dialogue on sustainable transportation with employees, employers, and property owners.
This fall, Viable Cities, together with cities and other partners, will launch a special initiative focused on Green Travel Plans for Schools.
