A free online conference dedicated to decarbonising the commute was announced as COP26 launched its transport sessions.
Held next month, on 9 December, with speakers from across industry, government and academia, ZC3 (Zero Carbon Commuting Conference) aims to help employers reduce their Scope 3 commuter emissions.
Commuting emissions account for 5% of the UK’s total emissions, 18 billion kg of CO2e annually.
Often overlooked, these emissions are increasingly under the spotlight following organisations setting ambitious net zero targets.
These targets cannot be met unless commuting emissions are addressed, particularly with many employers across the public and private sectors planning their return to the office.
74% of district, county, unitary and metropolitan councils have formally declared a climate emergency and more than half of them have set a goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions locally by 2030 or sooner.
These net zero goals will be unachievable without considering the commute as part of their net zero strategies.
It is clear, achieving net zero will require unprecedented collaboration through public-private partnerships.
“If we’re serious about decarbonising road transport, we need to bring government and industry together,” Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Schapps said when he was addressing the Zero Emission Vehicles Transition Council.
He added: “We must move forward as a single body, in pursuit of a single goal.”
ZC3 will be opened by the UK Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, George Freeman.
With over 30 speakers, including Jo Walker, Group Environment and Sustainability Manager at the UK’s largest mutual insurer, Royal London, Glenn Lyons, Professor of Future Mobility at University of the West of England and Transport Strategy and Policy Manager for Kirklees Council, Joanna Ward.
The conference is being hosted by Mobilityways, the UK’s leading software provider dedicated to decarbonising the commute.
By bringing together leaders from across the sustainable mobility space and showcasing best in-class examples from the public and private sector, Mobilityways hopes to build on the conversations born out of COP26 and give employers a practical toolkit of solutions to make zero carbon commuting a reality in their organisation.
Commenting, Founder and CEO of Mobilityways, Ali Clabburn said:
“The commute is one of the least efficient journeys we ever make and the public sector employees 5.6 million people, representing a huge portion of the UK’s Scope 3 commuting emissions.
"Our commuting behaviour is a huge contributor to the climate crisis and employers must be accountable for reducing that impact.
"We hope ZC3 will support collaboration and sign post new and innovative ways to decarbonise the commute.”
