Get moving and go sustainable

Health benefits of sustainable transport

For the first time in 2007 the Global Corporate Challenge broadened its message by addressing the indirect health benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through choosing alternatives to vehicular transport.

Sustainability Victoria partnered with the Global Corporate Challenge and the Centre for Heart Disease and Diabetes Prevention to estimate and report on the greenhouse gas abated through the efforts of participants in the Challenge.

Through a survey of participants the following findings emerged:

• Cycling and walking increased during the Challenge by approximately 47% and 257% respectively
• Driving and riding motorcycles decreased during the Challenge by approximately 50% each
• Travel by bus, train and tram decreased during the Challenge by approximately 60%, 20% and 80% respectively
• Of all possible changes to travel behaviour (prior versus during the Challenge), the major change was from driving a motor vehicle to walking (41%)
• The average monthly greenhouse gas abatement during the Challenge was 6.2kg per survey respondent
• Generalizing the average monthly abatement to the entire Global Corporate Challenge population results in an estimated greenhouse gas abatement of more than 550 tonnes over the four months duration of the event
• Survey respondents generally fell into one of the following 3 categories regarding non-vehicular travel: prior non-vehicle users (26%), new non-vehicle users due to the Challenge (28%) and vehicle users generally unable to walk or cycle (46%)
• 90% of respondents reporting changed travel patterns stated they intended to retain the changes after completion of the Challenge
• A common sentiment from participants was that they found the change from vehicular travel to walking or cycling a surprisingly pleasant one

The findings suggest that promoting and reporting the environmental benefits of the Challenge, in tandem with the direct health benefits, could increase participants' overall sense of achievement and improve motivation.

Download the  Global Corporate Challenge Travel Behaviour Survey Report (394KB)

For the 2008 Global Corporate Challenge, we hope to see the benefits doubled through at least twice as many people participating! 

Top | Last updated 28/10/2008