The transport sector is one of the largest sources of GHG emissions in the EU. While some positive steps have been made in recent years, reducing transport emissions is one of the greatest challenges in Europe. To achieve this objective, the European Climate Law set the necessary legal obligations, including the overall GHG emission reduction target of 55% by 2030 and the reduction of transport emissions by 90% by 2050.

Cities and regions are at the forefront of this transition and play a crucial role in decarbonising road transport, as they are the places where mobility, infrastructure, and housing policies intersect. Local governments have the ability to shape sustainable transport systems through integrated policies that reduce car dependency, accelerate vehicle electrification, and implement measures to improve urban air quality. This commitment is highlighted in initiatives such as the EU missions 100 climate-neutral and smart cities, which already has 112 cities committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2030.

There is a lot that can be done - by promoting vehicle fleet electrification and prioritising shared and active mobility over private car ownership, cities can make cleaner travel more convenient and accessible. Moreover, housing and land-use policies that encourage compact, mixed-use development can reduce travel distances and enable residents to rely more on public transport and shared mobility options.

To tackle air pollution and reduce GHG emissions, Low and Zero-Emission Zones are a popular option to achieve cleaner air and decarbonisation, and have been implemented in more than 300 cities across Europe.  But they generate public backlash and are politically hard to implement in the current political landscape, as seen in Madrid, Brussels, or Paris, among others. However, the electromobility transition is here to stay, as established by the 2035 ban on ICE car sales. But switching to electric cars still faces challenges for consumers and public authorities: affordability, lack of public space for charging, and misalignment with parking and urban planning strategies are some of the key issues. Car sharing can be part of the solution, as it reduces the need for private car ownership, and when electrified, can contribute to zero pollution cities and support the grid (when the cars and charging infrastructure are V2G enabled)

But shared mobility is still not yet a priority for housing developers, as it is out of their core business, and car-sharing operators face difficulties in finding viable business models.

On 15 October 2025, as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities, POLIS organised a workshop with the Interreg projects STEER-NWE and Share North-Squared, to discuss and exchange on this topic, as well as listen to inspiring presentations and examples.

The event opened with an introduction to the topic of carsharing from Pedro Gomes (Polis Network), aimed at setting the scene and ensuring that all participants were fully aware. Afterwards, Ivo Cré (POLIS Network) moderated a panel session with an inspiring set of speakers, covering the general (the importance of carsharing) to the more specific aspect (integration with housing), to the local (a concrete example from the Brussels Region).

Why is carsharing important?

Bram Seews (Way to Go) presented some illustrated examples of the impact of a shared car in usage space, reduced car ownership and liveability. He highlighted the need for a unified definition of carsharing in the EU, as well as explaining that even with pollutant and CO2 emissions associated, an ICE shared car is still a better option than private ownership, as recently published in a study in Bremen. He also explained that electric car sharing is not yet a popular option due to initial costs, charging needs and also consumer preference - electrification of car sharing should not be rushed, but go at the same speed as the electrification of other fleets.

Not just about cars: Mobility in public, cooperative and social housing

Clara Mafé (Housing Europe) presented some of the key EU policy enablers of shared mobility and housing in the EU, as well as its current limitations, given that there is no specific push for car sharing in housing developments.  However, this could significantly help reduce housing costs: shared mobility means less parking needs, which in turn results in less construction costs (10-20% in Sweden social housing). Among other common principles, Clara highlighted that the location of vehicles is key, as well as the support of local authorities. She also alerted for the fact that social housing companies do not have the knowledge or legal mandate to procure carsharing services, which means that to successfully upscale pilot projects, public-private partnerships are key.

Pilot in action: Shared electric cars in a social housing building

Harold Habousha (Brussels Environment) then presented a concrete example of this type of partnership, presenting a pilot project with Clem and Community Land Trust Brussels. Brussels Region, as part of its Green Deal on inclusive carsharing. The 12-month project consists of the availability of two electric vehicles (a passenger car and van) that can be used by the 32 residents of a social housing building in the Brussels commune of Molenbeek. While the project has been successful and attracted a high level of interest from residents, profitability is an issue, and it will require adding more people to the system. Opening it to the general public brings safety concerns, as this car-sharing is installed in the building's underground parking, currently only accessible to residents. Additionally, Harold alerted that when the project subsidy ends, users will have to pay for the full cost of the system.

After the presentations, participants were asked to contribute via a group exercise, sharing their thoughts on the main objectives, challenges, and key aspects from their own contexts related to the following questions:

1. How can shared mobility help decarbonisation?
2. How can shared mobility help affordable housing provision?
3. How can shared mobility help transport poverty?

The inputs provided were quite valuable for the work of projects such as STEER-NWE, which aims to empower public authorities to develop integrated, energy-efficient, and inclusive electric carsharing approaches.