TIP 4: DRIVE ECO-FRIENDLY AND CARPOOL!

We travel more than ever and order goods that are shipped around the world. In reality, we know that every trip and every shipment causes air pollution, but what can we really do about it?
We can’t ask the whole world to never travel anywhere or ban the import of food and medicine, for example. The solution is to make both travel and transportation as environmentally friendly as possible!

If you really need a car, you have a few different options to choose from:

• Choose an eco-friendly car—theyrun on fuels that produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions, such as biogas, ethanol, and electricity.

• Carpooling - Ifseveral people are going to the same place, carpooling is a brilliant idea. Five people traveling in one car is much better than five people each driving their own car. If you split the gas costs, it’s also cheaper for everyone.

• Share, rent, or take a taxi—Ifyou only need to drive occasionally, a carpool can be a good solution. That way, you share both the use of the car and the costs with a few other people. For occasional longer trips, you can rent a car, and if you only need a car a couple of times a year, a taxi is the perfect solution.

We’re constantly moving from one place to another. We go to preschool, school, sports practice, work, the store, and to see friends. Traveling in and of itself isn’t a problem. It’s not how often we move around that affects the planet, but how we do it.

If every family had an emissions budget—if we were only allowed to produce a certain amount of air pollution—we would quickly realize which types of travel “cost the most” in terms of emissions. A flight would use up the entire budget in one go, while bicycles, trains, buses, and streetcars cause hardly any emissions at all.

Be budget-smart—use modes of transportation that produce fewer emissions! Feel free to compare the benefits of the different options as well: Cycling is free exercise; during a train ride, the family can spend more quality time together; you don’t need to be well-rested to take a train or a taxi, and so on.

How can we explore new places and create memories in a climate-smart way?

Our long, narrow country boasts stunning natural beauty. Thanks to the right of public access, we can all enjoy it. Why not choosea “Sweden vacation” one year? Take a vacation in Sweden and discover new cities, new national parks, new beaches, mountains, and sights. Take the train as far as your money will take you! Did you know, for example, that the sun never sets in the summer in northern Sweden?