The eco way to go

The evidence for global warming is overwhelming. The past decade has included four of the hottest years on record, glaciers in the Alps are melting and the first cuckoo of spring is getting earlier and earlier. The cause is the hole in the ozone layer, but the true culprit is man, who has discovered that controlled fireworks with fossil fuels can get him to Manchester on wheels or to New York on wings.

At the risk of sounding like a killjoy, our instinct to travel has been one of the biggest contributors to climate change, through carbon emissions. And while the leisure business has to some extent woken up to the danger, with eco-tourism, eco-taxes and tour operators making contributions to environmental projects, the business traveller pays it little heed. Speed, comfort and prestige are all far more important considerations.

"Business travellers have just as much of a duty of care as leisure travellers," says Andrew Davis, director of the Environmental Transport Association. However Davis acknowledges that it would be unfair to label all executive travellers as uncaring. When it comes to individual choice, many cycle to work and elect for eco-tourism for their family holiday, but their corporate travel remains a world of jets, limousines and fluffy towels. Unfortunately, the contribution to world ecology made by a whole year of cycling to work can be undone by a single transatlantic flight.

The statistics of CO2 output are pretty clear-cut. If the train is used as the base unit, with a pollution factor of one, then sea travel comes in next at 17, the car at 47 and air travel at 1,816, which makes a pretty strong argument for travelling by train.

There are measures that individual business travellers can take. The first is to ask if the journey is really necessary, especially now that videoconferencing is cheaper and more readily accessible. Noel Edmonds' company face2face, for example, has around 150 suites around the country, and prices start at £50 per hour

If the journey is necessary, and it is within the UK, consider travel by train. If it is a regular trip where you need your own transport at the other end, investigate joining the network of 25 local car clubs (every club car is said to replace five in private ownership; check out the website listings). If you intend to drive your own vehicle, look at combining with someone else heading for the same or a nearby destination. And don't thrash the car; the difference in petrol consumption can be dramatic, with minimal change in journey time.

If the travel is international and involves an overnight, select a hotel with a positive environmental policy. The likes of Scandic, with totally recyclable rooms, and Intercontinental, Hilton, Marriott and Rezidor SAS all make eco-commitments. Counteract environmental impact overseas by booking rental vehicles through

And finally, if all else fails, you can do your own carbon trading to offset some damage-Climate Care is an organisation committed to helping individuals and businesses reduce impact on global warming. For example, it can take your travel details, calculate the CO2 emissions, and invoice you for a contribution to one of its green projects. Especially useful is its link with Carhire Online which makes a donation to Climate Care every time you rent its vehicles overseas.

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