July 2023

The luxury of modern transportation comes with high environmental costs.

Transportation is one of the five most significant sources of greenhouse gases, accounting for 1/4 of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, and it’s the only sector with rising CO2 emissions. According to a report from the European Environment Agency, in 2020, around 77% of CO2 emissions in the transport sector originated from road transportation. In 2019 Passenger cars and vans are significant polluters, accounting for 61% of the EU’s CO2 emissions from road transport and about 15% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions.

So, let’s tackle this issue by reconsidering our transportation behaviour.
Here are easy-to-implement tips on how to do so.

WHAT IS GREEN TRANSPORTATION?

The solution is ‘green mobility’. But what the hell does this mean?
Green transportation or green mobility is the movement of people and goods in any energy-efficient transportation mode with a low environmental effect. Environmentally friendly transportation means a lower ecological footprint, e.g. emitting less CO2.
Green mobility can fulfil our current transportation needs without jeopardising non-renewable resources or our environment.

Every form of transportation consumes a different amount of energy, making some vehicles "greener" than others.
So, let us look at all the different transportation modes to determine the most suitable mix for you while reducing your environmental impact.

SUSTAINABLE CAR

Going green on the road doesn’t mean eliminating your automobile to decrease environmental impact. There are ways in which you can contribute to environmental protection on the road while still using your car.

THE SHARED CAR & THE SHARED RIDE

Are you living in the countryside without a proper public transport system? Okay, we got it, people are dependent on their cars. However, what about greening your moving profile by sharing your car or at least some rides!?
Here are a few tips for your inspiration:

Get a shared car with your neighbours or friends. It is cheaper, and you can share the effort for maintenance as well.
Get together with colleagues and carpool to commute.
Children from different households can be brought to school together, and parents take turns driving.

Simple tips for more sustainable car use

Do you already own a car? Here are a few tips on what to take into consideration to reduce fuel combustion and lower your carbon footprint:

Drive at low revs, smoothly & prudently.
Remove redundant weight.
Avoid excessive idling.
Regularly check tyre pressure.
Use the air conditioning & heating only when necessary.

Check our manual entry on Sustainable Car → for more details about sustainable car use.

BUYING A CAR

Consider the following factors when buying a car:

Prefer cars that consume alternative energy sources, such as ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas and dimethyl ether, and electricity.

Get a car with low fuel consumption.

Choose smaller cars over bigger ones.
Opt for a second-hand car.

Prefer diesel to petrol, as diesel engines emit less CO2, burn fuel more efficiently, and offer higher mileage than petrol engines.

Find more details on what to watch out for when getting a car in our manual entry Sustainable Car →

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Why is using public transportation environmentally friendly? Even if most general means of transport are not sustainably constructed and operated, their environmental benefit lies in their property of massive transportation that replaces individual car travelling. As a result, using public transport as an alternative to cars:

Reduces road congestion.

Mitigates the emission of carbon products and harmful chemicals.

Improves air quality.

Decreases noise pollution.
Creates healthier communities.

The more we choose buses or trains over cars, the more those benefits are amplified.

BIKING

Biking is an easy-to-adapt transportation mode. Many people learn how to bike early, plus bicycles are relatively cheap and easy to store, repair and maintain. Also, remember you could travel faster by bike for a short distance by avoiding traffic jams.

In our manual entry on Biking → you learn all about:

How to make biking part of your daily routines.
How to spot and where to get sustainable bikes.

WALKING

Walking is by far the most straightforward and cheapest green way to travel.
Many of our daily short journeys (which we use to make by car for convenience) can be covered on foot. Reconsider your daily routes and ask your navigational system how long it takes to walk your regular routes.
Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Commuting.
Go shopping, to the market, the doctor, the gym, your hairdresser, a friend, or the restaurant.
Consider bundling activity. Note which destination you must target soon and make it one travel destination for all. For example: Bring a letter to the post office. On your way, bring your books back to the library, and get bread at the bakery.
Walking your children to and from school. By the way, a great option to spend some quality time together, chat, hold hands, hug and touch while making them used to not using the car for short distances.
Suddenly when cooking, you realise that you miss an ingredient. Ask your neighbour to lend it and purchase it later, on your way to meet friends or go for a walk.

E- MOTORCYCLES & SCOOTERS

Electric motorcycles and scooters are plug-in electric vehicles with two or three wheels. Power is supplied by a rechargeable battery, which drives one or more electric motors.

Same to electric cars, electric motorcycles and scooters provide a smooth, exhaust fumes-free and silent ride. Italy is a popular producer of e-motorcycles and scooters, with brands like Energica and Vespa being dominant. Some other indicative brands for e-motorcycles and scooters are Zero (US), Super Soco (China), Sur-Ron (China), Zapp (UK), and Verge (Finland).