Travel Plan signposts sustainable future for Transport Scotland

Scotland’s national transport agency Transport Scotland has taken the innovative step of mapping its own carbon footprint to help reduce its emissions.

The Agency’s Travel Plan is the first in the UK to set its targets in this way.

While more than eight out of 10 Transport Scotland staff already travel to the headquarters in Buchanan House in Glasgow via public transport, by bicycle or on foot, the agency is aiming to reduce its carbon emissions even further.

The aim of the Travel Plan, developed with assistance from transport planner JMP, is to "measure, monitor and minimise the greenhouse gas emissions from travel by Transport Scotland employees".

Transport Scotland is aiming to reduce its total annual carbon footprint by eight per cent - or 35,000kgCO2 - over the next two years, by making fewer commuter and business rail, car and air journeys.

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change welcomed the plan. He said:

"This Government is committed to promoting a sustainable future by tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Travel Plans are ideal tools to reduce emissions from staff travel.

"I am delighted to see Transport Scotland mapping its own carbon footprint and setting ambitious but realistic targets for reducing its impact on the environment.

"By seeking to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions over the next two years, Transport Scotland is aiming to cut the carbon equivalent of taking an aeroplane trip six times around the world."

Targets include cutting emissions from:

* commuter car journeys by 10 per cent, equivalent to five staff leaving their cars at home and switching to rail
* Business journeys by rail between Edinburgh and Glasgow by 20 per cent, equivalent to each employee reconsidering four journeys every year.
* Scotland-London air journeys by 20 per cent, equivalent to cutting 34 return trips.

One of the principles underpinning the plan is ‘the greenest mile is the mile not travelled’ and greater use of video and telephone conferencing will play a significant role in reducing journeys.

Staff are also being encouraged to work from home more, if appropriate, and incentives have been introduced to help staff make the switch from car to bicycle power.

The Travel Plan has been developed to outline a clear travel policy, which is in line with current Scottish Government travel policies and follows on from the Scottish Government Travel Plan published in December 2007. These travel plans are part of the much wider Scottish Government Climate Change Action Plan, which seeks to reduce the carbon emissions of all Government operations.

Debbie Ross, a principal transport planner who led the JMP input into the plan, commented:

"It is fantastic to see Transport Scotland providing leadership in this way.

"Transport has to be included in the debate if we are truly to tackle climate change and Transport Scotland has shown that real reductions can be achieved with the right measures."

The full Travel Plan is available on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk.