The transportation sector represents a serious contributor to climate change. Most traditional forms of transport are dependent on fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, coal, kerosene and oil. Burning these fuels produces the principal greenhouse gas —carbon dioxide. Many nations around the world cite transportation as the largest producer of carbon dioxide in their countries.
Personal Vehicle Use
There are an estimated 600 million personal vehicles driving around on the planet. Each litre of gasoline used by a car produces 2.3kg of carbon dioxide. The Sierra Club USA explains that ‘the average car emits about 6.3 tons of CO2 over a year — and the average SUV or pickup emits around 8.2 tons.’ Worldwide, this adds up to an enormous quantity of carbon dioxide just from vehicular transportation.
Within the transportation sector, the largest source of greenhouse gases is from personal vehicles, mainly cars and light-duty trucks. The David Suzuki Foundation explains ‘The popularity of sports utility vehicles, trucks and minivans, which now account for 50% of new vehicles sales, has had a highly negative impact on average fuel efficiency.’ Changes in industry regulations concerning mandatory fuel efficiency are starting to occur, athough the oil and automobile industries are formidable foes supporting inefficient fossil fuel usage. The Sierra Club USA reports America's automobiles produce more global warming pollution than all the vehicles, power plants, and factories in Great Britain combined.
Men whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV.
Persuasive Marketing
The automobile industry, in particular the SUV, pickup truck and min-van manufacturers, need to take responsibility for brainwashing North Americans into believing they need an inefficient fossil fuel burning mobile house to drive around. Many drivers of larger vehicles insist their vehicles are ‘safer for children’ and having one or two children necessitates having a large vehicle. However a study published in Pediatrics Journal on behalf of the U.S. Partners for Child Passenger Safety, found that children who ride in sport utility vehicles are no safer than those who do not.
Another common argument in favor of SUVs and pick-up trucks is a ‘love of the environment’. Clever million dollar marketing campaigns from the SUV and pick-up truck companies have packaged and sold the larger vehicles to consumers as ‘manly, outdoorsy, sporty, nature-loving’ and even at times, as green choices. Individuals believe that spending a maximum of 5-10 days ‘camping’ per year supports their need for large SUVs or pick up trucks. Driving a compact fuel-efficient car for the majority of the year and renting a more robust vehicle for vacations makes more environmental sense and supports the reduction of unnecessary fossil fuel usage.
Insecure Men More Likely to Drive SUV
SUV and truck marketing campaigns target individuals who think of themselves as rural men, sportsmen, outdoors enthusiasts and adventurers, or the individual who perceives himself as the man’s man. Yet numerous studies indicate individuals who need to feel more powerful, secure or masculine often purchase large vehicles. Cornell University researcher Robb Willer found ‘Men whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV.’ Truck and SUV marketing executives have successfully exploited male insecurity.
The Future
The automobile industry and federal governments need to legislate the regulation of strict fuel efficiency in personal vehicles. The automobile industry also has a responsibility to produce alternative energy vehicles that run on electricity, solar power, biodiesel, hydrogen, liquid natural gas, and ethanol. However, until fuel efficiency legislation is in place, individuals need to take responsibility for their contribution to climate change from personal transportation.
What You Can Do
Cut out one car trip each week.
If you must drive, combine your errands and carpool.
Downsize to the smallest possible fuel-efficient car.
Purchase a hybrid.
With the money saved on minimizing car use, purchase a bicycle.
Drive fuel efficiently. Start slowly, drive the speed limit and don’t accelerate too rapidly.
Ensure tires are properly filled.
Never idle your engine. Turn off your vehicle when not in use.
Don't drive around with excess weight in the car. More weight means less fuel efficiency.
Resources
CarFreeFriday: http://www.carfreefriday.com
David Suzuki Foundation: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
Declare Freedom from Oil: http://www.freedomfromoil.org
Life After Oil: http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
Post Carbon Institute: http://www.postcarbon.org/
Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/
Green Pages
Hybrid cars might be a good interim solution, but the world needs to create renewable energy source vehicles as well: http://www.hybridsynergydrive.com/
The World Solar Challenge: each year in Australia solar cars from around the world drive 300 miles from Darwin to Adelaide. Held annually in October: http://www.wsc.org.au/
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