Cities with the Greenest Commutes

Daily commuting is one of the most consistent contributors to urban carbon emissions. From private vehicle use to public transport and active travel, how people get to work plays a significant role in shaping a city’s environmental footprint.

With hybrid work now firmly embedded and some governments continuing to promote initiatives such as cycle-to-work schemes and public transport investment, commuting habits continue to evolve. But which cities are making the biggest strides towards cleaner travel, and which are falling behind?

Energy comparison service iSelect has compared Australian, US and UK locations based on average commute distance, transport mode popularity, percentage of people working from home (WFH), and work commute CO₂ emissions – both total impact and emissions per commuter. From this, we were able to determine which cities offer the greenest commutes and which still have room for improvement.

Cities with the greenest commutes in Australia

Australia’s greenest commuting cities reveal a clear trend: shorter commute distances, higher WFH participation and lower reliance on private vehicles, all factors which significantly reduce emissions.

1. Townsville

Townsville ranks as Australia’s greenest commuting city, driven by a combination of shorter average commute distances (9.8km, the lowest on the index) and lower per-commuter CO₂ impact – a low of 1,580g of CO₂. Car use (which is one of the highest contributors to CO₂ emissions) remains common, but the overall travel distance per worker keeps total emissions comparatively low.

2. Cairns

Cairns performs strongly due to modest commute lengths (10.1km) and a notable share of residents working from home (15.7%). With fewer commuters, average work commute CO₂ emissions per person remain among the lowest nationally, at 1,602g of CO₂.

3. Launceston

Launceston benefits from a smaller workforce (80,000 – the lowest on the index) and shorter daily travel distances (10.3km on average). While private vehicle use is still prevalent, the city’s lower overall commuter base keeps total emissions comparatively contained.

4. Toowoomba

Toowoomba’s emissions profile reflects balanced commuting habits. A mix of local employment opportunities and shorter travel distances reduces per-person emissions – 1,714g of CO₂ – compared with larger metropolitan centres.

5. Canberra

Canberra stands out for its relatively high percentage of people working from home (13.54%), which significantly reduces total commuter emissions. Despite a majority reliance on cars, hybrid work patterns help offset overall transport-related carbon impact. Interestingly, bus use is relatively high compared to other cities (5.22%, second only to Adelaide).

Across these leading cities, two patterns are consistent: shorter commutes and higher WFH rates correlate strongly with lower emissions per commuter.

Cities with the greenest commutes in the U.S.

In the US, larger population bases mean total emissions can be high even where per-commuter impact is comparatively low. The greenest states balance strong public transport networks with remote work uptake.

1. New York

New York ranks as the greenest US state for commuting, largely due to its heavy reliance on public transport. A significant proportion of commuters travel by subway (19.11%) rather than private car, dramatically reducing per-commuter CO₂ emissions (1,572g per commuter) compared to car-dominant states such as Mississippi or Arkansas.

2. Massachusetts

Neighbouring Massachusetts benefits from high bicycle use compared to other states (the third highest in the index), lower private car use and increased levels of commuting by foot or metro. Combined with a moderate number of people working from home (14.80%), this keeps per-commuter emissions comparatively low.

3. New Jersey

In the same region, New Jersey also benefits from high public transport use and a growing hybrid workforce (13.5% WFH). Lower car dependency relative to national averages contributes to reduced emissions per commuter.

4. Illinois

Illinois performs well thanks to strong public transport uptake in metropolitan areas and a notable proportion of residents working from home. This reduces both total emissions and the average carbon footprint per commuter.

5. Alaska

Despite longer average commute distances in some regions, Alaska’s smaller workforce limits total commuter emissions (1,996g of CO₂ per commuter). Lower population density plays a key role in reducing overall impact.

In the US data, transport type distribution has the greatest influence on emissions outcomes, with train and bus-heavy states consistently producing lower per-commuter emissions than car-dependent regions.

Cities with the greenest commutes in the UK

The UK results highlight the powerful role of public transport infrastructure and active travel in reducing  commuting emissions.

1. City of London

The City of London records the lowest work commute CO₂ emissions per commuter in the UK – a mere 175g. An exceptionally high proportion of commuters rely on rail, underground services, walking or cycling, with car use representing only a small fraction – 7.37% – of journeys. At 42%, it also has the highest WFH rate in the UK.

2. Westminster

Westminster benefits from dense public transport coverage and strong active travel uptake. The percentage of residents working from home (27.8%) also contributes to lower overall commuter emissions.

3. Camden

Camden’s emissions profile reflects a low reliance on private vehicles (just 16.57% use cars) and strong cycling and public transport participation, helping keep average commuter emissions (384g of CO₂) below national urban averages.

4. Islington

Islington records one of the highest shares of sustainable commuting modes, with walking and public transport dominating daily travel and cycling use at 12.58%. This significantly reduces per-commuter carbon impact.

5. Hammersmith

Hammersmith combines strong underground connectivity – 25.63% of commuters take the tube – with active travel uptake, resulting in relatively low emissions (412g of CO₂ per commuter) compared to more car-dependent UK cities.

Across the UK’s greenest commuting cities, public transport and active travel account for the majority of daily journeys, sharply reducing per-person emissions compared to cities where car travel dominates.

Conclusion: green commuting insights

The greenest cities in Australia, the US and the UK all share common traits: shorter commute distances, diversified transport networks and higher WFH participation. As governments continue investing in sustainable transport and flexible work remains widespread, commuting patterns will remain central to efforts aimed at reducing urban emissions.

For eco-conscious consumers, understanding how daily travel contributes to overall environmental impact is an important step towards making more sustainable lifestyle decisions.