Travelknowhow Scotland is calling on Scottish businesses to start planning ahead encourage a more climate-friendly commute, with transport currently the largest contributor to UK domestic greenhouse gas emissions, according to Government statistics.
In a year which the United Nation’s COP26 will be hosted in Glasgow, the UK is making global leading strides in its efforts to tackle climate change, committing to a new legal target to cut carbon emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 and a third of the FTSE 100 pledging to the ‘Race to Zero’ campaign.
The progress in the commitment to climate change is steadily proving positive, with CO2 now down to just 50 per cent of 1990 levels in areas including heat, industry and agriculture. However, one area – transport – remains a lesser touched issue, despite contributing to 28 per cent of the UK’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions.
Travelknowhow, a Scottish-based organisation providing free workplace travel planning guidance, believe that all businesses across the private, public and third-sectors can play a pivotal role in helping to change the way we think about commuting and business travel moving forward.
Over the last year, road traffic and petrol and diesel sales have had a dramatic decrease as a result of home-based working and legal restrictions on travel, but as we begin to look towards the return to workplaces, we can expect to see these surge. A reduction public transport may see many who used buses and trains for their daily commute now opt for personal car usage instead.
In order to counter the issue and support efforts to reduce carbon contributions from transport, businesses should look to implement sustainable travel initiatives within their workplace that encourage a reduction in the need to travel to work wherever possible, as well as encouraging more active and sustainable travel choices for journeys that need to be made.
There are plenty of approaches that businesses can take with their travel initiatives, including supporting longer term working from home, encouraging employees to cycle to work over driving a few days per week or even incentivising greener commutes through walk to work competitions.
More flexible working allows employees reliant on buses and trains to travel during off-peak times and ensure a safe commute to the workplace, and access to cycle lockers and changing facilities can encourage employees to change their travel behaviour. It is about knowing what measures offer the best fit for your workplace.
Following a series of successful workshops throughout February and March 2021, Travelknowhow Scotland is currently offering businesses in Scotland the opportunity to book FREE consultancy time and access valuable, hands-on support for their specific workplace, allowing businesses to develop workplace travel planning measures that work for their employees, their business and the environment.
Contact info@travelknowhowscotland.co.uk or visit www.travelknowhowscotland.co.uk to learn more about how your workplace can get some FREE hands-on support.
