Cars Ick!

Cars, who needs 'em anyway!  Yucky, dirty, smelly cars!
Me! And a lot of other people too.

From the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources/transportation.html
Transportation (28% of 2011 greenhouse gas emissions) - Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. Over 90% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes gasoline and diesel.

Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 

Economic Sector in 2011

Total Emissions in 2011 = 6,702 Million Metric Tons of CO2

equivalent 

      * Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry in the United States is 

     a net sink and offsets approximately 14% of these greenhouse gas 

emissions.

      All emission estimates from the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas 

Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2011

On closer inspection, personal automobiles account for about 1/2 of transportation related GHG emissions - about 11% overall.  Since 2008, emissions from automobiles has dropped, perhaps due to an increase in the price of gas, and the poor economy.  Better fuel mileage and cleaner automobiles on the road has contributed to lower GHG emissions in the last recently, though not if measured from 1990. 

Emissions and Trends

In 2011, greenhouse gas emissions from transportation accounted for about 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the second largest contributor of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions after the Electricity sector. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation have increased by about 18% since 1990. This historical increase is largely due to increased demand for travel and the stagnation of fuel efficiency across the U.S. vehicle fleet. The number of vehicle miles traveled by passenger cars and light-duty trucks increased 34% from 1990 to 2011. The increase in travel miles is attributed to several factors, including population growth, economic growth, urban sprawl, and low fuel prices over much of this period. Between 1990 and 2004, average fuel economy among new vehicles sold annually declined, as sales of light-duty trucks increased. However, new vehicle fuel economy began to improve in 2005, largely due to a lower light-duty truck market share and higher fuel economy standards.

Among the suggestions the EPAGives for reducing GHG emissions from personal automobiles is to use less carbon-producing fuels, improving fuel efficiency with technology and design, improve operating practices, and reducing travel demand.  Since the biggest achievement in reducing emissions has come from fuel efficiency, how realistic is it for government to impose behavioral modifications on its citizenry, at great expense, for dubious results?  Not very.  Or not at all.  It is a grandiose ideal of those in power to think they can change human behavior by the force of government, paid for by the people they govern.  And another thing, why pick on transportation?  Is it the suburbs they don't like, or just the cars we drive?  

Reducing Travel Demand

Employing urban planning to reduce the number of miles that people drive each day. Learn about EPA's Smart Growth Program. Reducing the need for driving through travel efficiency measures such as commuter, biking, and pedestrian programs. See a list of links to state, local, regional travel-efficiency programs.

Building public transportation, sidewalks, and bike paths to increase lower-emission transportation choices. Zoning for mixed use areas, so that residences, schools, stores, and businesses are close together, reducing the need for driving.