Anyone who lives or has ever lived in a rural area knows that it is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to get around without a car. Between the lack of infrastructure for so-called soft mobility, such as cycling, or the lack of transport (bus, intercity, etc.), Today, the car remains the favorite form of transport for rural residents..

That’s why a new Alliance to “decarbonize roads” has just been launched, a very vague term, but this initiative unite businesses and communities around real solutions aimed at reducing air pollution and CO emissions₂ related to transport.

Don’t just focus on urban areas

The trio leading the initiative is made up of political scientist Francois Jemain, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), economist Patrice Joffron, and Jérôt Guibert, president of the Eco-Factory think tank. In a press release, they expressed their desire to highlight “The most effective decarbonization solutions to achieve success in the environmental and energy transition of mobility”.

Starting in the spring of 2024, the Alliance plans to propose an initiative aimed at transport solutions in rural and semi-rural areas, an approach to spreading positive influence beyond urban centers.

Among the first members of this alliance are players such as Transdev and Keolis in the field of public transport, Geodis among transporters, gas distributor GRDF, players in electric charging such as Electra or ChargePoint, concessionaire Vinci Autoroutes and even the BMW manufacturer. Mercedes is also exploring the possibility of joining this movement.

Attack the car? Not at all

This alliance stems from a manifesto published in June in the Journal du Dimanche (JDD), signed by fifteen dedicated researchers who call “accelerate the investments and commitments needed for a sustainable road”.

François Jemin points out that, despite numerous ecological transition policies, the road often remains neglected. He insists on the need to take positive steps to change the way forced travel is carried out, citing examples such as electrification, express buses and car-sharing lines.

The Sciences Po professor of environmental geopolitics also emphasizes that touching individual cars often causes resistance, but insists on the importance of sending a positive message. He says there are concrete solutions to make these journeys more “sustainable”.

At the same time, the Automotive Platform (PFA), which represents the automotive sector, plans to join this alliance. Thus, he joined the council of the department of Esson, the metropolis of Montpellier and the city of Valence (Drôme).

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