At a conference last week the audience was told that 85% of employees that are provided car spaces by employers have a public transport alternative to work. Businesses looking to reduce emissions might therefore consider alternative transport incentives for employees that reduces the use of the car.

There are advantages all around in this approach. There is saving on emissions, on space in the workplace and ultimately around fleets. Rising fuel prices, might further encourage employees to switch. How might this be done? For this to work, there needs to be behaviour change and that is tough and this is where government policy and incentives might help. If companies were to substitute the cost of the car space for a payment to the employee's public transport cost that is an obvious thing to do. But everyone loves their car so more might need to be done. The payment to the employee might be tax free creating benefits for both employer and employee and better might the employer be able to earn carbon credits from the reduction in emissions caused by its employees? It might be a temporary measure but a step forward.

A framework that looks to get the car off the road has broader issues. Less congestion, more options for urban planning and public transport and for individuals fuel savings.

Moving in this kind of direction is hard slog but it is thoughts such as these that need to be entertained, even in the car driving board rooms of FTSE companies.