A day without using your car?

Sepetember 22nd is "International Car-free Day"

On the 22 September, another car-free day will be taking place. Such days were introduced during the fuel crisis as a solution to the fuel shortage. Today, the car-free day is a campaign that should remind us of the necessity to change our habits of mobility.

We are driving down the wrong path

Road traffic is responsible about 20 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. In comparison, the emissions from other means of transportation such as airplanes, ships and trains are in the single digits.

In Austria, the average number of people sitting in a car is 1.07.

On average, more than half of all Austrians own a car.

It's not due to rational reasons that people are using the care, it's mere laziness. But convenince does not come without a cost - if we do not change our habit, we will soon find earth as a very unpleasant place to live on as scientity predict a severe rise in temperature til the end of this centrury.

 It’s now or never!

"Save the world“ is no longer an excessive demand. While some are still denying climate change, others have already resigned and given up. But neither will help truly further the cause and as scientists have warned: Time is running out. Today we can still make a difference. Tomorrow it will be too late.

Necessary limitation on the worldwide temperature increase of under two degrees can only be achieved if the entire population collectively reduces its carbon dioxide emission. One thing is certain: The more we delay in reducing the emissions, the more radical are measures must become.

climate change

How can I help?

Breaking a habit can be quite tough. Sometimes it is our laziness that keeps us from changing aspects in our lives, even if we know that those changes would result in positive benefits.

The average car journey in Germany is about 11 kilometres, a distance that for example could easily be managed by bicycle.

traffic jam carbon emissions
entspannte zugfahrt

A positive turnaround in climate protection can only be achieved if every single person cooperates. Even if we like to think that our contribution will not make a difference, we need politics and the economy to take important measures.

This is not entirely true. If 7.5 billion people can make a small contribution by using their cars less, the results would be greater than us just waiting for a few individual people to make a decision.

Those who drive 3,000 kilometres less can cut down on around 510 kilograms of CO2 emissions. Which is on average the equivalent to the amount of CO2 that a tree can absorb in its lifetime.

breath fresh air with the Greenfinity Foundation
Aufforsten Nicaragua zur Emissionsreduktion

If driving less is not an option, your donation would enable us to plant a tree thereby compensating your CO2 emission.

How many car journeys are truly unnecessary?

We often use the car as a means of transportation simply because it is more convenient. Car-sharing would be a great opportunity to only use the car when it is truly necessary. Switching to an electronic car is a great start for short-distance drivers.

However, switching to a bicycle is not only great for the environment but for your health as well. Most of us already spend most our day sitting down and even use our cars to get to the gym. Why not ride your bicycle? The journey to the gym might therefore no longer be necessary and the fresh air will also strengthen your immune system.

Almost every second car journey in Austria is shorter than 5km, and every fifth journey is shorter than 1km. In Great Britain, 66% of all car journeys are even less than 5km!

Need more reasons why you should leave the car at home more often? For your health and the good of the environment!

We give you 13 good reasons.

leave your car behind take the bike