Firms should do more to make sure their workers adopt greener travel habits, a new report has urged.
The CBI said decarbonising the journeys of commuters will be vital if the country is to hit net-zero targets.
Companies should take more responsibility for cutting their employees’ emissions, said the business group.
It pointed out that before the coronavirus crisis, commuter journeys accounted for 15% of all trips and 20% of total travel distance in the UK, adding that commuting emissions will need to be radically reduced for the country to achieve its environmental ambitions.
A report by the CBI and KPMG suggested firms should incentivise public transport use and promote the delivery of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
CBI chief UK policy director Matthew Fell said: “If the UK is to meet its obligations to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, decarbonisation of commuting will be vital.
“However, this will require not only significant public and private investment in infrastructure and technology, but also a shift in business and employee behaviours to match.
“A key change will be for businesses to now take greater responsibility for their employees’ commutes.”
Richard Threlfall, of KPMG, added: “As Covid-19 restrictions start to ease, employees are reconsidering where they work and how they commute, giving employers a unique window of opportunity to reduce the impact of these journeys on the environment.”
