Friday 16 May 2008

The report, Travelling Light, uses the results of an independent survey into the travel policies among 100 companies in the FTSE 350. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed have, or are in the process of developing, a policy to encourage green business travel. Some 89% said they expect to cut flights over the next 10 years and 85% see videoconferencing as a way to achieve this.

"Our report has revealed that there is a real appetite among many of the UK's biggest businesses to reduce the number of flights they take," said Peter Lockley, head of transport policy at WWF-UK. "For many companies, travel is a major contributor to their carbon footprint – more than 50% in some cases – and green alternatives such as videoconferencing not only provide a swift solution for cutting carbon, they can also save businesses time and money. In the current economic climate, and with increasing carbon accountability, videoconferencing is an easy win for businesses."

The report is part of WWF's One Planet Future campaign, which is asking businesses to cut one in five flights. If all European companies were to cut their business travel by 20% and use video or audioconferencing instead, it would avoid 22 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year – the equivalent of taking a third of the UK's cars off the road.

WWF's One Planet Future campaign is working to help people achieve a good quality of life within the Earth's capacity. If everyone used natural resources and generated carbon emissions at the rate we do in the UK we would need three planets to support us. The way we live is leading to environmental threats such as climate change, species extinction, deforestation, water shortages and the collapse of fisheries.

WWF's One in Five Challenge will recognise, advise and support those companies that are taking action to cut down on flying. WWF also strongly urges government agencies and departments to sign up to the campaign and commit to cutting one in five flights.

"There's an important message here for the government," Peter Lockley added. "The UK's biggest businesses believe they can fly less and still remain competitive – so why do we need more runways? We're told that a third runway at Heathrow is vital for the UK economy, but if business travellers – who currently account for more than a fifth of passengers from the UK and a third from Heathrow – are increasingly choosing to hold 'virtual meetings' instead of taking flights, then the case for airport expansion begins to evaporate."

Read the full report and watch a WWF video on our findings at wwf.org.uk/travellinglight