Although remote working is not a new phenomenon and was already well established before the pandemic struck, its use has grown exponentially since 2020. In theory, working from home should lead to a decrease in the use of transportation infrastructure and, consequently, a reduction in pollutant emissions. However, research has shown that travel patterns change when workers choose to work from home or remotely. Thus, while the number of commutes may decrease, other trips may be added to the new daily routine. This substitution has potential implications for transportation demand and its environmental consequences.

In this study, the authors attempt to quantify the likely impact of the uptake of remote working on transport demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the Québec City metropolitan area as a case study. This study represents a significant contribution from a methodological perspective. The analyses are conducted using an agent-based simulation model to compare the effects of various scenarios with the baseline scenario. The results suggest that teleworking is likely not the solution to the environmental problems arising from people’s travel choices. The expected benefits in terms of reducing traffic and pollutant emissions are not as significant as might initially have been anticipated.