A GUIDE to Green Transport Plans has been drawn up to advise Government departments on environmental best practices. With the Government keen to add its voice to calls for companies and public sector organisations to promote cleaner transport methods, it is increasingly looking to its own departments to set an example.

The Guide to Green Transport Plans gives departments advice on how to work out which aspects of travel are most important to their work and to identify areas where the impact of travel could be reduced. Departments can choose to review all transport issues or focus on one for a particular site, but are advised to appoint a green transport co-ordinator to monitor the plan's implementation and progress.

The guide suggests that within the Green Transport Plan departments should introduce a Commuting Action Plan (CAP) to encourage staff to think about the impact of their travel choices. A staff travel survey could be used to reveal those interested in car sharing and could provide the basis for determining which staff live near each other or on the same route to work. Other measures designed to promote green commuting include flexible working hours, using pool or hire cars for official travel and working from home.

The guide can be found on the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions' site at http://www.open.gov.uk/doe/envir/greening/gghome.htm