Alternatives to car ownership

Using your own car has a major impact on the average carbon footprint of French citizens, nearly 2 tons of CO2e per year. Yet, 2 tons per year is exactly the target we need to reach to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050. However, we will always need to eat, have a house and wear clothes all of which contribute to our carbon footprint. It is the sum of all these activities that must remain within this limit.

Clearly, there’s a long way to go! But what if we tried to travel that distance with less carbon?

Current data on car ownership in France

How did we get here? The carbon footprint of using your own car is calculated using a range of data points. It consists of two main parts:

• Vehicle manufacturing footprint: amortized over 10 years in the simulator. The carbon footprint of manufacturing depends on the size and engine type of the vehicle, ranging from 6 to 20 tonnes of CO2e (data from the ADEME Empreinte database). Yes, that’s huge!
• Usage footprint: depends on the number of kilometers driven annually, the occupancy rate, and fuel efficiency. The emissions per kilometer range from 15 gCO2e for a small electric car to 220 gCO2e for a gas-powered sedan (Empreinte database).

Each kilometer driven and every new car purchased increases the carbon footprint. There are two main challenges ahead:

• Reducing the number of kilometers driven in private cars
• Reducing the impact of each kilometer driven

Reducing the number of kilometers driven in private cars

There are two approaches to tackling this issue.

Cutting down on travel distances

Did you know? The time people spend commuting has remained relatively stable throughout history. This is known as Marchetti’s constant, an example of Jevons' paradox** or the rebound effect. As transport improves, people tend to live farther from work, schools and leisure activities, while keeping the same commuting time.

For instance, in the 1960s, the average commute in France was 3 km (source). Today, the average distance is 13.3 km (2019 mobility survey).

Ways to reduce travel distances:

• Move closer to work and essential services (next time you relocate, consider living near your workplace, shops, and schools).
• Go on closer holidays vacations, explore your region, France, or Europe by train!

Cutting back on private car use

It’s hard to escape… modern infrastructure is designed for cars. Roads, parking spaces, and urban planning all encourage car dependency, making it difficult to imagine alternatives, especially in rural areas.

Moreover, once a car is purchased, its high fixed costs (purchase, insurance, maintenance) make it tempting to use as much as possible. People tend to ignore the full cost and only consider marginal expenses (fuel, tolls, parking).

The result? Car ownership is expensive, averaging around €500/month (calculate your real car costs here).

So, how can we gradually reduce our dependency on private cars?

1. Public transportation

Public transport density allows many city dwellers to live without a personal vehicle. It is both economical and environmentally friendly, while also reducing road accidents by eliminating distracted driving. Many passengers use their travel time to read, relax or even work.

If public transport options are lacking in your area, give feedback to local officials: contact your city’s mobility department, regional authorities, or local transport agencies.

2. Expanding cycling networks

Cycling is making a strong comeback in both cities and rural areas. The variety of bikes available today including cargo bikes and electric bikes makes cycling more accessible for longer distances.

The main barrier to cycling? Sharing the road with cars. This is why improving cycling infrastructure is a priority! Across France, ùany groups are working to push local governments for safer bike lanes. Do you know about a cycling association in your area?

3. Car-sharing

Unlike carpooling, car-sharing involves renting or sharing a car rather than owning one.

According to an ADEME study, one shared car can replace 5 to 8 private vehicles. This has huge potential, considering nearly half of French drivers don’t use their car daily (source). The study also found that 40% of people using car-sharing reduced the number of cars in their household. Currently, about 20 car-sharing operators exist in France with 300,000 active users. Time to increase those numbers!

4. Carpooling

For trips where driving remains necessary, filling more seats reduces emissions per passenger. Currently, the average car occupancy in France is 2.25 passengers for long trips and just 1.43 for short trips (more numbers on car occupancy rates here).

Many platforms connect drivers with passengers, some focus on long-distance travel, others on daily commutes. Some companies even offer carpooling options for employees.

For more data on transport emissions, check out Impact CO2:

Reducing the impact of every kilometer

After reducing car use, the next step is optimizing it. Whether electric, hybrid or gas-powered, private cars have two major carbon footprint factors: manufacturing and usage.

The best approach? Extend a vehicle’s lifespan, the longer it lasts, the lower its per-km impact. Regular maintenance helps keep it running efficiently.

For daily driving, small changes can also help:

• Drive slower and more smoothly (eco-driving, 110 km/h on highways).
• If switching cars, choose an electric vehicle (for a full breakdown of EVs and climate impact, read this article).

Wondering about your own transportation footprint?