Transportation accounts for approximately one quarter of Canada's total GHG emissions. Of that, passenger cars and light-duty trucks make up nearly half, contributing 12% of Canada's total GHG emissions. There exist opportunities for co-operatives to help address this issue and reduce their carbon footprint. These include selecting and using vehicles with sustainability in mind (e.g. fuel efficient vehicles, hybrids), developing commuting strategies conducive to healthy people and planet (e.g. walking and cycling), and locating and designing sites so as to promote healthy lifestyles. In addition, choosing low-impact modes of transportation, such as train, bus, or alternative fuel vehicles over flying will help to reduce a co-operative's overall environmental footprint.
By making sustainability-oriented decisions in relation to vehicle selection, vehicle use, and vehicle use awareness, co-operatives can reduce their overall GHG emissions.
Considerations
If you have a co-op fleet, use fuel-efficient vehicles (e.g. Smart cars, hybrids)
Encourage the use of electric and human-powered transport
Discourage vehicle idling.
Encourage bike delivery as much as possible, both in delivery of products and services to your site, and in your own delivery of products and services to members/customers.
Commit to using products that are produced locally (e.g. manufactured goods, food) to avoid excessive transportation.
Commuting to work can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Co-operatives can develop an integrated commuting strategy that combines the promotion of no- or low-emission transport, facilitated access to public transportation, and innovative car-share programs.
Considerations
Facilitate the use of local public transit systems whenever possible. Make available timetables, maps, and other transit-related information to employees and patrons.
Provide bike racks and/or safe storage facilities.
Promote active transportation. Consider developing incentives for co-op members, employees, and visitors to use environmentally sustainable transportation options, such as discounted or free bus passes, co-op owned bicycles, and so on.
Consider partnering with, or forming, a green vehicle co-operative.
Provide a regularly scheduled shuttle with strategic commuting locations.
Vancouver's Co-operative Auto Network (The Car Co-op) is a not for profit co-operative incorporated to foster car sharing as an alternative to privately owned automobiles.
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization that provides a variety of resources to help improve transportation planning and policy analysis.
7.3 Location
The location of a co-operative will shape transportation options and impact transportation patterns for employees and members/customers. By adequately locating or designing its site, a co-operative can actively promote the use of sustainable transportation.
7.1 Vehicles
Commuting to work can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Co-operatives can develop an integrated commuting strategy that combines the promotion of no- or low-emission transport, facilitated access to public transportation, and innovative car-share programs. 
Vancouver's Co-operative Auto Network
