Bus, Train, Metro and Carpooling Companies will show how sustainable transport is a first-class entry point to greener economies.

19 June 2012 – Brussels

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), together with dozens of train, metro, bus, and carpooling companies across Europe are launching the Let’s Travel Together campaign aimed at changing the behaviour of travellers and commuters and inviting citizens to virtually share their ride with friends and jump on the sustainable spaceship driving to Rio…

As part of UNEP’s GreenUp initiative, Let’s Travel Together will show in a virtual and entertaining way how sustainable transport can help kick-start the transition towards a Green Economy. Carpooling or taking public transport reduces environmental impacts and economic costs while strengthening communities. Europeans who carpooled from 2008 to 2011 saved over 630,000 tonnes in carbon emissions, 324 million litres of gas, and 750 million euros.[1] In 2009, railways only produced 1.8% of total CO2 emissions from the transport sector, corresponding to 0.6% of total CO2 emissions in EU27[2].

As many of us experience every morning, current transport models are not sustainable. If we stay on track with current trends, vehicle traffic will increase by 60% between 2005 and 2025 – and that means choosing between gridlock and fewer public urban spaces. The cost of traffic congestion, pollution and accidents in the EU well exceeds €500 billion each year. Moving towards greener societies isn’t just environmentally friendly but also economically and socially sound. If we double the market share of public transport, the urban transport energy consumption and related GHG emissions would only increase marginally, saving around 170million tonnes oil equivalent and avoiding the emission of around 550 million tones CO2 equivalent in 2025, compared to the business as usual scenario[3].

Let’s travel together is about promoting sustainable transport and triggering new habits for a greener Europe. On the eve of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development “Rio+20”, UNEP and the European transport sector are calling on citizens to support the transition to a new economic model. It’s not just about private and public entities, it’s everyone’s business.

The campaign is designed with social media in mind: Let’s Travel Together’s centre piece is a web application where your Facebook avatar will appear on a green, futuristic vehicle together with everyone who has pledged to take sustainable transport. Participants will also be able to embark the animal of their choice on this virtual journey; if they convince their friends to join the adventure, they will enter the campaign competition and may win free tickets! When youtravel with others, you protect the planet, you protect nature and you take an active part in a greener economy.

As of today, transport companies and associations will promote Let’s Travel Together on their websites and social media channels, encouraging visitors to get on board, invite friends and enter for a chance to win free travel in Europe.

http://www.greenup-unep.org/traveltogether/

Note to editors:

- GreenUp is a UNEP initiative that provides resources to citizens to help them connect their everyday choices to support the transition to a Green Economy. Learn more at www.greenup-unep.org or www.facebook.com/greenup.unep.

- The Green Economy will be discussed by Heads of States and Governments and their representatives at the Rio +20 summit in Brazil this week. More information: www.uncsd2012.org

- The Green Economy as envisaged by UNEP would serve a threefold purpose: improve human well-being; enhance social equity; and at the same time protect ecological assets and reduce environmental risks. More information: www.unep.org/greenup or www.unep.org/greeneconomy

- List of partners: 

DB - Deutsche Bahn - http://www.bahn.de

CARRIS - Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa - http://www.carris.pt/

INFRABEL - http://www.infrabel.be/

SNCF - Société nationale des chemins de fer français - http://www.sncf.com

NSB - http://www.nsb.no - Norges statsbaner 

SBB - Schweizerische Bundesbahnen - www.sbb.ch

TMB – Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona – www.tmb.cat

TPG - Transports Publics Genevois - www.tpg.ch

TRENORD - http://www.trenord.it

UIC – International Union of Railways – www.uic.org

UITP – International Association of Public Transport – www.uitp.org

Carpooling – www.carpooling.com

Carpooling – Spain- carpooling.es

Carpooling – Italy -carpooling.it

Carpooling – UK – carpooling.co.uk

Carpooling – France - carpooling.fr

Carpooling – Poland - carpooling.pl

Carpooling – Germany - www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de

Carpooling – Switzerland - www.mitfahrgelegenheit.ch

Carpooling – Austria -www.mitfahrgelegenheit.at