How Will Climate Change Impact on Transportation?

Back in 2015, the World Economic Forum reported on the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the COP21, which aimed to create a more sustainable future. Since then, we have seen the global automotive industry stepping up to create more eco-friendly driving experiences. During the conference, thirteen CEOs from thirteen different companies each committed to delivering a unique, yet significant contribution in the bid to decarbonize automotive transport. But how will climate change impact on transportation?

How Will Climate Change Impact on Transportation: Research

Researchers (Meadows, Meadows, and Randers 1992) believe that the global climate is undergoing a period of change, due largely to rapidly increasing levels of atmospheric greenhouses gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. It’s expected that temperatures will rise.

A great contributor to this increasing temperature is the motor vehicle population, which is powered by fossil-fuel burning engines. Carbon dioxide emissions and nitrous oxide can potentially alter the climate. The average vehicle produces three units of carbon dioxide for every unit of standard gasoline consumed. In addition to carbon dioxide, vehicles also emit greenhouse gases, such as the CFCs released from air conditioning units.

Although fuel economy can help mitigate the total greenhouse emissions produced by motor vehicles, more motor vehicles on the roads, and increased mileage will still increase the contribution of auto transportation on the environment and climate change.

Transport energy accounts for approximately twenty percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions (Lashof and Tirpak 1990). This is in part driven by the fact that Americans are buying larger vehicles and flying more. Emissions caused by domestic aviation went up 10% from 2012 to 2016.

Apart from adopting France’s plan to ban the sale of gasoline vehicles by 2040, what could we do to cut back emissions?

  • Walk to work or school if possible.
  • Find out whether your city offers a bike-share program.
  • If you can’t walk or bike, use public transportation.
  • Use ride-sharing services or carpool with friends.
  • Buy an electric car. Charging stations for electric vehicles are becoming more easily available. You can also opt for a plug-in hybrid electric, hydrogen fuel cell or a cleaner burning gasoline car.
  • Don’t let your car idle unnecessarily – modern vehicles don’t need to “warm up” in winter.
  • When ordering online, opt for a longer delivery time to allow logistics companies to optimize their deliveries to your area.

How Car Shipping Reduces the Climate Change Impact on Transportation

If you’re moving to a new city on the other side of the country, or following the snowbirds to the south, it would be better to ship your car. Auto transportation carriers load several cars onto one truck, thus consolidating all the fuel burned into one single amount. Rather than ten cars driving in the same direction, burning fuel and emitting greenhouse gases, there’s only one truck that carries all the vehicles, making it a more eco-friendly option.

Need more information on auto transportation and how it can help reduce emissions, get hold of Nationwide Auto Transport today.