A new initiative to tackle
the environmental impact of tourism mobility
Viaja en Verde is an initiative led by eco-union that aims to reduce the environmental impact of tourism mobility in Spain.
Transport emissions represent around 25% of the European Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions, reaching up to 29% in Spain, one of the leading tourist countries with more than 83 millions of international visitors every year. It is therefore high time to progress with a modal shift from aviation and road towards cleaner transport modes and sustainable travel patterns.
Rail is one of the greenest modes of transport, with less than 0.4% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions and a steadily improved energy efficiency, and plays a key role in terms of sustainable mobility. However, despite being a central part of the solution, it is still very little used in the context of both medium/long-distance mobility and cross-border mobility.
Our initiative seeks to raise awareness among the different political decision makers, business networks and tourism managers of the need to promote the use of trains for medium and long distance trips to travel to, from and within Spain.
A shift towards a greener tourism mobility calls for a renewal of the rail sector, going beyond high speed rail, with the development of cross-border connections, the return of night trains and an investment in conventional rail.
All in all, with the Viaja en Verde initiative, we intend to engage with key stakeholders, raise awareness of policy/decision makers from the tourism and transport sector, and promote institutional and corporate commitment towards the use of railways for business and leisure mobility.
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