Everyday choices, lasting impact
HOW YOU
MOVE MATTERS.
Transport is responsible for around 27% of UK carbon emissions. How you get from A to B every day adds up faster than any holiday flight.
GETTING FROM A TO B
Grams of CO₂ emitted per kilometre, per passenger. Source: UK Government DEFRA / Our World in Data 2024. Your daily commute decision is one of the highest-impact choices you make all year.
Short-haul flight
255
gCO₂ per km
The single highest-impact way to travel. A return London–Edinburgh flight emits more CO₂ than 3 months of average driving.
Petrol / diesel car
170
gCO₂ per km
Solo driving is expensive and carbon-heavy. Sharing with one passenger halves this figure immediately.
Electric car (UK grid)
47
gCO₂ per km
72% less than petrol on the current UK grid, and improving every year as renewables grow. Significant — but not zero.
Bus / coach
29
gCO₂ per km
Often overlooked. A full bus produces a fraction of the same number of cars. Electric buses are even better.
Cycling / walking
~0
gCO₂ per km
Zero direct emissions. The food calories burned cycling add a negligible ~16g CO₂/km on a typical diet.
Sources: UK Government DEFRA conversion factors 2024, Our World in Data, International Railway Association. Figures are averages — EV emissions vary with grid carbon intensity.
RETHINK YOUR COMMUTE
Switch one commute a week to cycling
If every UK commuter cycled just once a week instead of driving, it would cut transport emissions by around 7%. For the average 10km commute, cycling saves roughly 1.7kg CO₂ each way.
↓ ~170kg CO₂/yr on a 5-day weekTake the train for longer journeys
For commutes over 20km, rail is 6× less carbon-intensive than driving alone. Season ticket prices have come down relative to fuel costs — it's often cheaper too, especially with a railcard.
↓ Up to 85% less CO₂ vs solo drivingWork from home when you can
One day working from home per week can cut your annual commuting emissions by 20%. The key is making sure your home energy is renewable — otherwise the savings are smaller than they appear.
↓ ~20% transport emissions per WFH dayIf you drive — share the journey
Carpooling with one other person immediately halves your per-person emissions. Apps like Liftshare and BlaBlaCar make it easy to find commute matches. Splitting fuel costs helps too.
↓ 50% emissions with one passengerConsider an e-bike for medium distances
E-bikes extend the practical cycling range to 20–30km, making them a genuine car replacement for many commuters. The UK government's Cycle to Work scheme offers tax savings of up to 47% on purchase.
↓ Near-zero emissions, 5–40km rangeOffset unavoidable journeys via Climeworks
Some commutes simply can't be avoided. For those, Climeworks' direct air capture removes actual CO₂ permanently — not tree-planting promises. From £7/month for 50kg of removal.
Calculate what to offset →ELECTRIC VS PETROL
EVs are significantly better for climate — but the honest picture is more nuanced than the headlines suggest. Here's the data.
THE HONEST PICTURE
EVs are better — significantly — but manufacturing a new EV still produces around 10–14 tonnes of CO₂ before it leaves the factory, largely due to battery production. This means the greenest car is often the one you already have, run for as long as possible.
If you are switching, the best time to buy an EV is now — the UK grid is getting greener every year (35% renewable in 2024, up from 7% in 2010), so the lifetime emissions of an EV bought today will be lower than one bought in 5 years.
Second-hand EVs are the sweet spot: the manufacturing carbon is already spent, and you benefit from the lower running emissions. The Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe and earlier Teslas are strong used options.
FLIGHT VS TRAIN
For most European routes, the train is not only dramatically lower-carbon — it's often comparable door-to-door once you factor in airports.
CO₂ figures are per person, return journey. Sources: DEFRA, Eurostar environmental reporting, Our World in Data 2024. Door-to-door times include city centre to city centre.
LOW-CARBON DESTINATIONS
All destinations →↗ Sleeper train
Scottish Highlands
Caledonian Sleeper from London
↗ Train via Madrid
Portuguese Coast
Eurostar + Renfe from London
↗ Via Paris and Milan
Italian Lakes
Eurostar + regional rail
↗ Train + walking
Camino de Santiago
Train to Hendaye, walk from there
↗ Eurostar + cycling
Dutch Cycling Routes
London to Amsterdam by Eurostar
↗ GWR direct
Cornish Coast
Paddington to Penzance
TRUSTED PARTNERS
Slow travel holidays planned entirely around trains, ferries and buses. No flights, ever — and they handle all the logistics so you can focus on the adventure.
Explore holidays →Book trains across 45 countries from one place. Every route shows CO₂ comparisons against the equivalent flight — book ahead for the best prices.
Book trains →Tours from operators independently verified for sustainability. Every holiday puts local communities and environmental responsibility at the centre.
Browse tours →Recycled, durable travel bags built to last a lifetime. The Roll Top Backpack and Weekend Bag are our top picks for low-impact travel.
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