Travel to and from work makes up about a third of urban journeys, so promoting sustainable mobility that minimises damage to the environment and maximises people’s quality of life is important to trade union members. Better management of day-to-day travel has a positive impact on the economy, on health, and is vital in the fight to control climate change.

Currently, transport is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, accounting for more than 20% of total emissions – of which the great majority come from road transport.

Next week, the European Commission is due to publish a Green Paper with proposals on urban transport. “The European trade union movement wants to tough action to coordinate sustainable transport strategies at European level, to move away from car usage to means that generate lower levels of greenhouse gases such as public transport, combined transport and bicycle” said ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Transport, largely by road, accounts for more than 7% of employment in the EU. In its pioneering research study on climate change and employment this year, [1] the ETUC concluded that the transport sector offers a huge potential for job creation in greener means of travel. Transport emissions could be stabilised by 2030 while, directly and indirectly, creating 20% more jobs overall, developing public services such as rail, tram, bus and metro.

The ETUC proposes that companies over a certain size should be obliged to appoint a mobility officer and develop mobility plans, involving workers’ representatives in the process, as part of a European strategy for sustainable mobility of workers between their homes and places of work.

ETUC affiliates will be organising their own activities during Mobility Week, in cooperation with local partners.