PredictX x SQUAKE: Quantifying CO₂e Savings from Air-to-Rail Modal Shift for Audit-Ready CSRD and Scope 3

The Strategic Challenge: Why Auditable Data is the Key to Net-Zero

For corporate travel and sustainability leaders, the goal of achieving net-zero targets is urgent. Modal shift—encouraging rail over air travel—represents one of the most impactful levers for reducing your corporate carbon footprint. The opportunity is staggering: research shows that taking the train instead of flying cuts your CO2e emissions by a staggering 90% on comparable routes.  

However, the true challenge lies not just in advocating for these sustainable choices, but in quantifying their impact with audit-ready precision. Without accurate, verifiable data, your CO2e reporting cannot withstand the increasing demands of ESG compliance. 

This blog introduces Part 1/3 of the strategic guide, "Choosing the Right Track,"—an essential resource co-authored by PredictX and SQUAKE that examines this critical data challenge.

DOWNLOAD PART 1: MASTER AUDIT-READY ESG DATA

The Modal Shift Opportunity: Realizing Massive CO2e Reduction

The math is compelling. Independent analysis shows that planes emit between 30 and 50 times more CO2e than trains, and around 100 times more CO2e per hour than a shared bus or train ride.

The Scale of Impact 

• Business Travel Emissions: Business travel represents about 15-20% of global travel, offering a significant opportunity for organizational impact.
• Proven Savings: A train trip produces up to 90% fewer CO2e emissions than a comparable flight.
• Strategic Impact: Cutting corporate travel in Europe by 50% would reduce emissions by 32.6 MtCO2e by 2030, equivalent to taking 16 million polluting cars off the road.

Beyond the environment, the business case extends beyond carbon. Taking the train can often be faster door-to-door than a one-hour flight, due to the two-hour-plus airport time required for flying.

GET THE GUIDE: QUANTIFY YOUR 90% CO2e SAVINGS

The Data Crisis: Why Approximation Fails ESG Reporting

The challenge for corporate accountability is tracking these savings. Accurate emissions tracking requires the integration of multiple data sources and standardized calculation methodologies.

For complex travel programs, T&E Reporting data is fragmented across expense systems, TMCs, and direct bookings. This makes calculating Scope 3 Emissions an unmanageable task, leaving your data indefensible during an audit. You need to move beyond approximations to audit-ready precision. 

Download the Whitepaper, Part 1, to explore:

• The Critical Importance of Data: Why integrated technology solutions must transform fragmented travel and expense data into auditable and actionable insights.
• Real-World Route Comparisons: Data revealing the massive CO2e savings on routes like London to Paris (~96% reduction) and Madrid to Barcelona (~71% reduction). The ~25% gap between these routes shows a key challenge in emissions reporting: accuracy. Rail emissions may vary by energy mix, distance, train type, and other factors. That’s why generic estimates fall short.
• The Business Case: How to position modal shift as a win for both sustainability and infrastructure efficiency.

DOWNLOAD NOW: SOLVE YOUR SCOPE 3 DATA & AUDIT CRISIS

The CEOs on Auditability, Trust & Corporate Travel Sustainability

"Today’s travel and sustainability managers need more than just numbers, they need insight they can trust. This partnership means our clients can rely on a native solution, purpose-built to meet sustainability reporting requirements, without compromising on accuracy or auditability."

— Keesup Choe, CEO, PredictX

"Integrating with the technology and innovation leader in travel and expense data analytics is a natural step. Together, we’re raising the bar for what enterprise clients can expect from sustainability tools, transforming data into meaningful action."

— Philipp von Lamezan, CEO & Co-founder, SQUAKE

The Integrated Solution: PredictX & SQUAKE Leadership

The solution lies with integrated platforms like the partnership between PredictX and SQUAKE. SQUAKE is a sector-specialized climate-tech platform that applies standards-aligned methodologies, including the GHG Protocol, for audit-ready reporting and smooth assurance under CSRD.

By integrating PredictX's powerful analytics and data visualization with SQUAKE's certified methodology: 

• Unquestionable Accuracy: A native solution purpose-built to meet sustainability reporting requirements without compromising on auditability.
• Granular Data: Access to real, route-level savings and KPIs that enable teams to set evidence-based policies and track progress to net-zero.
• Defensible Methodology: Provides transparent, standards-aligned calculation traceability, eliminating "methodological ambiguity" for your climate risk analysts and ensuring every figure is defensible under internal or external audit. 

To learn more about how our platform handles every aspect of CO2e reporting travel and expense (T&E), from audit-ready CO2e reporting to the specific challenges of ground transport emissions and ESG compliance, download the whitepaper. The technology exists today to accurately measure and report these impacts.

GET PART 1: UNLOCK CERTIFIED SCOPE 3 COMPLIANCE NOW

Insights from PredictX x SQUAKE: Leadership in Audit-Ready Compliance

The expertise powering this whitepaper series comes directly from the leaders who built the solution. Ian Patmore (VP Product, PredictX) and Yury Erofeev (R&D Sustainability Manager, SQUAKE) bring unparalleled experience in T&E reporting and climate technology, confirming that solving the Scope 3 emissions challenge requires data that is both powerful and defensible.

Their insights underscore a crucial point: success hinges on certified calculation methodology and granular data access—a standard only achievable through unified platforms dedicated to audit-ready precision and sustainability reporting. Their work ensures your corporate program meets the stringent demands of GHG Protocol and CSRD for definitive corporate accountability.

Your Next Step: Get the Strategic Guide

The Scope 3 emissions mandate means success requires moving beyond good intentions to data-driven decision-making.

DOWNLOAD THE WHITE PAPER: CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRACK (PART 1)

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