Transportation

When examining the sustainability of institutions and businesses, transportation is often an elusive external factor. While energy, water, waste, emissions, and land use can be very explicitly attributed to the buildings in and property on which an institution or business operates, the boundary defining to whom should be attributed the environmental impacts of to getting people and resources there is often poorly defined. Within Ontario, passenger travel is responsible for one third of energy consumption, and general auto dependency enables urban sprawl, which often covers otherwise valuable farmland, yet it is not clear who is responsible for the associated environmental impacts.

In some instances, such as vehicle selection, the general public is responsible for choosing how fuel efficient a car they buy will be. In other cases, however, such as choosing to drive to work or take public transit, people are often guided by the options available to them. It takes twice or three times as long - sometimes more - to get from one location to another in Scarborough when taking public transit instead of a car, not to mention other factors such as taking care of children or carrying groceries. In such a situation, it is hard to claim that the average resident of Scarborough is free to choose to own a car or not. If not, then who is? Are developers responsible for promoting urban sprawl? Is the municipal government responsible for shape growth in a certain way? Are voters responsible for supporting certain policy decisions over others?

There are no concrete answers to these questions, but this uncertainty does not absolve institutions and businesses of responsibility. Some fraction of the environmental impacts of transportation - both passenger and otherwise - is attributable to individual institutions and businesses. At the very least, fleets controlled by an institution or business can be operated in a manner that minimizes their fuel consumption and environmental impacts. Institutions and businesses can also encourage modes of transportation for their employees, visitors, and clients that have minimal environmental impacts, while respecting the rights of these people to travel as they wish.

Beyond reducing environmental impacts, promoting non-automotive forms of transportation provide many fringe benefits. Active transportation - both on its own and in combination with public transit - increases daily exercise, which is a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Public transit, carpooling, and active transportation also provide more opportunities for social interaction, which can contribute towards vibrant community life. Sustainability involves thinking about the environmental impacts of how people get to certain locations, not just the activities that happen there.