Zipcar Continues to Stand for a Shared Future to Reduce Carbon Emissions

In 2018, Zipcar signed the We Are Still In Declaration, a joint statement comprised of the largest and most diverse coalition ever in support for the Paris Agreement, signed by businesses, cities, colleges and universities, cultural institutions, health care organizations, faith groups, state, and tribes. Together, we harness the power of our organizations to act against climate change.

This week, as we have for the past twenty years, Zipcar is still in, supporting action against climate change.

Zipcar’s mission is to enable simple and responsible urban living. Every individual, city, government and company plays a role in reducing greenhouses gases. For Zipcar, we aim to bring sustainable and equitable transportation to cities nationwide and reduce personal car ownership, which in turn reduces carbon emissions.

Shared mobility impacts environmental sustainability

Personally owned vehicles contribute to nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas.¹

Zipcar pledged to prioritize people over vehicles, lower emissions, promote equity, among other goals, when we signed the Shared Mobility Principles alongside fifteen of the world’s leading transport and technology companies.  Collectively disrupting the status quo should be a priority for everyone in order to create an environmentally sustainable future.

Car sharing reduces carbon emissions

From our twenty years of expertise and through proven studies, we know that sharing a vehicle reduces personal car ownership. In fact, car sharing delivers indisputable, long-term and sustainable social and environmental benefits as proven by our partners at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California Berkley and insights from our North American Transportation Survey.  

Studies prove that Zipcar members have a tangible impact on the environment, reducing personal vehicle ownership and thereby reducing carbon emissions. Car-sharing members reduce their CO₂ footprint by up to 1,600 pounds per year² and Zipcar’s 12,000 vehicle fleet means an estimated 156,000 fewer cars on city streets.³ Additionally, we know from data aggregated in our 2018 Impact Report that:

• 1 Zipcar takes up to 13 personally-owned vehicles off the road.⁴
• 65% of Zipsters do not own a car and 54% of Zipcar members got rid of a personal vehicle after joining a car.⁵
• After joining, round-trip car-sharing members drive 40% fewer miles than they did previously.⁵
• If car sharing wasn’t available, members would drive 26% more than their current levels.⁶
• Zipcar members report biking, using public transit, or walking the same or more after joining.⁷

Imagine if all drivers shared a car, accessing one only when they needed it?

How to share our vision

Join the efforts of responsible cities, states, and companies like Zipcar by aligning with organizations like We Are Still In or abiding by the Shared Mobility Principles. Consider how your personal actions impact carbon emissions. If you have the opportunity to share a vehicle, only drive when you really need to, or consider taking public transportation, walking or biking instead of driving, you are contributing to reducing carbon emissions and creating a sustainable future. Everyone must participate to mitigate the worst disasters associated with climate change.