September 22 — “World Car-Free Day”
2026-09-21 / Calendar of events
On this day, people in countries around the world are encouraged to leave their cars at home for one day and choose to walk, cycle or use public transport instead. Reducing car use has a positive impact on both the environment and human health. In turn, lower emissions from vehicles help reduce our carbon footprint.
Fact!
Car-free days were first introduced in some countries as early as the 1950s. In 1956 and 1957, car-free Sundays were held in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the late 1990s, car-free initiatives were introduced in a number of European cities. On September 22, 2000, the first European Car-Free Day was held. The initiative later spread to many countries and cities around the world.
The National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the Ministry of Transport, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) call on everyone to leave their cars at home for one day and choose more sustainable modes of transport, such as walking, cycling or public transport. Choosing not to drive helps reduce harmful emissions into the air. Our choice for just one day may be a small step, but it is an important one towards cleaner air. Let us make the places where we live and breathe more comfortable for people, rather than for cars!