Britain’s green car share leader Liftshare.com has launched a new culture award to promote positive environmental change in Edinburgh during this year’s Festival Fringe (August 7-31).

Last year, the Fringe helped people from across the world get ‘Unbored’ by offering 49,497 performances of 3,193 shows in 299 venues across Edinburgh. While this culturally diverse mix of acts is to be applauded, approximately 2,183,591 ticket sales triggered another annual rise of traffic, gridlock and higher-than-usual CO2 levels.

The Festival Fringe Liftshare Award aims to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions across the capital this August, by encouraging the public to walk, cycle, liftshare or use public transport around the festival city this summer. Not only will this reduce  emissions, but it will also mean the public will experience firsthand the unique festival vibe in the streets of this historical and beautiful city.

From now until August 21st Liftshare is inviting Fringe acts to submit a video of themselves in a car doing what they do best, be it telling jokes, putting on a show or telling a poem. Acts can also submit jokes or thought-provoking quotes over Twitter if they prefer.

The best act will be chosen by a judging panel, which includes special guests from the world of comedy and some of the biggest names in Scotland’s creative industries. Participating performers will receive promotion on the Liftshare blog and social channels in recognition of their efforts to promote green values throughout the Fringe.

Lex Barber, Community Outreach Manager at Liftshare said of the award, “The Festival Fringe cares deeply about the city of Edinburgh, so when Liftshare pitched them the idea of promoting positive green change across the capital, they were delighted to help us make this project a reality.

“Liftshare’s community removed over 73,000 tonnes of CO2 from UK roads in 2014,” she continued, “We are always searching for new ways to help improve air quality across the country, and we feel the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a golden opportunity to help raise sustainable awareness.”

Active since 1998, Liftshare.com is the UK’s largest car sharing site with over 450,000 members, offering everyday people a secure to meet and arrange car shares. Drivers can offer their spare seats to others for a share of the trip’s petrol cost, while those without access to a car can travel for less, and with a lowered impact on the environment.

In 2012, Liftshare was awarded a Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel in 2012, in recognition of its positive impact on Britain’s environment. It continues to collaborate with retailers, businesses, festivals, sports clubs and public communities on a daily basis to improve air quality in the UK.

Please visit the Festival Fringe Liftshare Award site for further information.