Transport and CO₂

During the last years our group has achieved a lot to green mobility in the European Parliament. Members of Parliament and staff are now initiated to use sustainable modes of transport through free bike rental services in Brussels and Strasbourg. There is also a bike parking, locker rooms and showers for those who bike to work This year will also see the installation of a mobility desk, that will provide information about public transport in Brussels.

 

 

 

 

 

Already now information on departure times of trains can be found in strategic locations in the Parliament. Moreover it was achieved to get information on the carbon footprint on each mission transport ticket. This will influence transport mode choices and offsetting possibilities in the future. Avoiding or minimising travel is the biggest potential to reduce carbon emissions. In addition to that, offsetting can further reduce our carbon footprint.

Greens/EFA Measures to avoidtravel

- Visio-conferencing, phone conferencing, live streaming
- Minimising travel to Strasbourg  and no reimbursement of flights
- For staff to go on missions (delegations, conferences) a special request procedure has to be followed and the request must be duly motivated and supported by the relevant committee coordinator.
- Participants, speakers, MEPs and staff who are attending external meetings hosted by our group,are motivated to use green means of transport.
- To major events such as the "First European Green Summer University", an event with 800 participants, 5 special busses had been organised, departing from all over Europe and a night train from Brussels to Frankfurt (Oder), where the event was taking place.

Offsetting of travel emissions

The Greens/EFA group is offsetting via the recognized German offsetting company atmosfair (www.atmosfair.de) that is investing in UN certified projects. The price per ton CO2 is 23,00 EUR. There is a "bulk" offsetting scheme for all travel from group staff. MEPs have individual contracts for accounting reasons, and they also use the offsetting company of their choice.

The Greens/EFA group does urge the EP to increase efforts to reduce travel and further investigate all possibilities to introduce offsetting schemes.

Our next EMAS action on green mobility will be held on 16 September 2010 during the European Mobility Week. 

Studies and campaigns
- The European Parliament two-seat operation: Environmental costs, transport & energy
- The Greens/EFA Climate Change Campaign

Calculate your own travel emissions:
- Green Mobility: Calculate your travel emissions with ecopassenger or ecotransit  

And if you really need to travel by car, check VCD