Transportation Effect on Climate Change - Term Paper Example

Transportation Effect on Climate Change Introduction According to U. S. Department of Transportation , "transport industry consumes over sixty seven percent of the total petroleum fuels consumed in the United Sates." The motor vehicle industry emits around thirty six percent of the total greenhouse gases in United States. An increase in the amount of greenhouse gas emission in the transportation industry requires strategies for reducing consumption of fossil fuels as a source of energy in the transport industry. In order to reduce the amount greenhouse gas emission, a number of necessary changes have been proposed. These include technological improvement, use of energy efficient fuels, management of demand for vehicles and use of renewable fuels as well as alternative sources of fuels. Greenhouse gases such as carbondioaxide are responsible for global warming that responsible for climate change. Although transport industry is not responsible for all greenhouse gas emission, it is among the industries consuming the largest amount of fossil fuels in the U.S. (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). "Fossil fuels are the main source of carbon dioxide" and other greenhouse gases. Transport industry affects other sectors such as agriculture, construction, mining, education and commerce among others (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). Therefore, policy decisions taken by the government or other agencies to regulate transport industry affect the operations of other sectors and individuals. Climate Change Climate change has been described as variations of average weather conditions recorded over a long period in a particular region or across the globe (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The issue of climate change has received much attention in the recent past with various nations convening conferences to establish a lasting solution to the menace of climate change. The policy makers have developed various strategies to address the issue, but there is little which has been done in terms of policy implementations (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). The issue of global warming is of significant global concern because the effects are felt across the globe rather than in a discriminate geographical region. Greenhouse gases are the main causes of global warming thus resulting to climate change. The main greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere include nitrous oxide (1.5%), carbon dioxide (95%), methane (0.1%) and hydrofluorocarbons (3.4%) (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The sources of greenhouse gases include natural and human activities. However, human activities are the major causes of Greenhouse gases emission in the air. The impacts of greenhouse gases can be understood through climate change. They trap the solar radiations and that retention of heat results to of rising of the atmospheric temperatures. Also, greenhouse gases wear out the ozone layer and expose the earth’s atmosphere on intensive solar energy that results to rising temperatures. Carbon dioxide has a long lifespan of up two hundred years in the atmosphere and this has resulted to accumulation of greenhouse gases thus resulting to global warming. Furthermore, the presence of these gases in the atmosphere results to chemical reactions when they interact with water vapor and releases heat energy that causes temperatures to rise (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). Increase in greenhouse gas in the atmosphere results to rising temperatures that affect global climate Figure 1 Source: U. S. Department of Transportation (2012). Transportation and Climate Change In the United States, the transport sector contributes about thirty percent of the total greenhouse gases emissions in and this account to about "eight percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions" (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). The transport sector emits a huge amount of greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide gases from burning of fossil fuels, vehicle manufacturing, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure, and extraction and refining of fuels. The greenhouse gases emissions from the transport industry increased by twenty seven percent between 1990 and 2006. Also, on-road vehicles contributed about seventy-nine percent of greenhouse gas emissions were contributed by transportation. Out of the on-road emission the passenger cars and light trucks contributed fifty-nine of the emissions; freight trucks emitted nineteen percent while commercial aircrafts released twelve percent. The other modes of transport contributed only ten percent of the total emissions (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). Therefore, direct transport activities have relatively high greenhouse emission than other indirect transport activities. Figure 2 Source: U. S. Department of Transportation, (2012). Efficiency of Transportation Vehicles and Climate Change Transportation generates about thirty percent of the United States total greenhouse gas emissions. The passenger vehicles and light trucks contribute "sixty percent of the total emissions from the transport sector" (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The effects of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere are that it causes global warming. It does so by trapping the solar radiations thus retaining solar energy that causes global warming. On the other hand, global warming is responsible for various changes in weather patterns or unpredictable weather conditions known as climate change. Burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Transport industry relies heavily on fossil fuels thus its importance in influencing climate change. Every one gallon of gas burned releases twenty four pounds of greenhouse gases in the environment. Out of the twenty four pounds of greenhouse gases, extraction production and transportation of fuels accounts for five pounds of greenhouse gases while the rest nineteen pounds emanate from the vehicles’ tailpipe (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). A vehicle releases about six tons of carbon in the environment per year. Strategies to reduce transportation effects on the climate change require use of efficient vehicles alongside other efficiency management strategies (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). Use of vehicles that consume low fuels will help in a reduction of greenhouse gases through reduction total volume of fuel consumed. The vehicle designers should come up with efficient vehicle models that can suit the needs of the consumers while reducing the amount of carbon released in the atmosphere. For example, the designers should come up with lighter models made of light materials, lower undulating resistance, vehicles with efficient aerodynamics and so on. The current challenge facing the new technology vehicles is the variations of the useful lives of the vehicles. The modern vehicles made of light materials last shorter period and have higher purchase value. However, the high technology vehicles that rely on efficient energy conversion system and having low carbon fuels have the potential to reduce the fuel cost thus resulting to overall reduction total expenditure of the vehicle over its useful life (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012) According to U. S. Department of Transportation (2012), rail and maritime sectors have the potential for reducing fuel consumption through use of more fuel efficient engines and by use of technologies capable of reducing friction. Even though rail and maritime contributes relatively lower greenhouse gases compared to light and commercial vehicles, technological advancement can still result to a significant difference in improving climate change. Aircraft have a potential of reducing carbon dioxide emission by about two percent during rail and reduce by about twenty percent per locomotive. Global warming and consequently the climate is a life threatening monster that has to be fought with all effort no matter how insignificant it may be. The use of fuel-economical vehicles results to a reduction in fuel use thus lower emissions (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). Consequently, reduction in emission of greenhouse gas results to less impact on climate change. Technological Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions The carbon emissions related to fossil fuels in the transport industry in the United States accounts for over eight percent of the global carbon emissions (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The fossil fuels are burnt to get energy for propelling vehicles. Most of the vehicles are too heavy since they were made of heavy metals. They are relative resistance to air motion compared to high technology vehicles. These aspects of the vehicle increase rate of fuel consumption are thus increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). Furthermore, the tradition vehicles were designed to use petroleum that requires much energy to burn thus increasing fuel consumption. The stakeholders in the energy sector should come up with economical fuels especially from renewable sources in order to minimize the damages petroleum fuels have on climate (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). Various aspects of fuel sources should be considered in order to ensure the carbon emission is reduced to the required threshold. The factors influencing the available sources of renewable sources of fuels include production methods and the amount of carbon released during the production process among others. Engineers should design efficient vehicles that can be able to utilize renewable sources of energy in order to lower the quantity of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere. The Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) are regulatory standards that were set in collaboration with producers, refiners and other stakeholders. They are implemented by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that all fuels sold in the United States for transportation consumption have the required minimum amount of renewable fuels (U. S. Department of Transportation (2012). Introduction of fuels with low-carbon content can help to reduce carbon emissions (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). For example, electricity, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen, ethanol, solar energy, natural gas, synthetic fuels and biodiesel are some example of sources of energy that release low amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Oil refiners and engineers have a responsibility for introducing efficient fuel alternatives that can be used in different vehicles and other uses to cut down the emission of greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). Although these alternative fuel sources are not appropriate for heavy commercial they can be used for light vehicles that contribute about fifty nine percent of the total carbon emission in the transport sector. With advanced technology engineers can come up with vehicles that can be able to utilize alternative fuels and save the environment (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The studies have suggested that the introduction of vehicles using hydrogen fuel cell lower the amount of carbon emission by more than eighty percent per vehicle. The figure could translate to over twenty percent decline in total greenhouse gas emitted by the transport sector. The introduction of effective electrical cells that can promote the use of low-carbon fuels in vehicles can help to bring down the amount of carbon emission by more than twenty percent in the transport sector. With further improvement in technology, the engineers can come up with vehicles that can use fewer fuels and reduce further the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by the transport sector (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The use of renewable sources of energy alternative source of fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels are the best methods of reducing greenhouse gases emitted in the atmosphere from the transport industry. Carbon Emission through Inefficient Management of Travel Activities Transportation affects all sectors of the economy. People use vehicles to move from place to another either to work, for a tour and other reasons. Goods have to be moved from the place where they are in supply to the place where consumer needs them (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The movement of goods and persons result to increase in fuel consumption since those vehicles used for transport have to use fuel. Furthermore, globalization has intensified the movement of people and goods across the globe. "An increase in movement of people and goods" has increased the amount of carbon emission in the atmosphere thus resulting to climate change. The transport system is poorly coordinated and that lack of adequate management has created unnecessary movements of vehicles and delays on the road. As more vehicles, delay they require more fuels thus increasing carbon supply. Another challenge facing transport industry is the increasing number of vehicles that carry below capacity. In the modern society, many people are dreaming of owning private cars of own private cars. The increase in a number of vehicles that rarely fill their carrying capacity on the road has resulted to unprecedented traffic congestion (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The traffic congestion results to wastage of over three billion gallons of fuel every year. Strategies for reducing traffic congestion on the roads will save the travelers’ time and save the fuel cost wasted in during congestions. Unfortunately, the number of vehicles continues to hike as more people prefer private to public means of transport (Ryley & Chapman, 2012). This cost continues to increase since the government is expected to deliver the service to the citizens including construction of public roads. During road construction, the machines involved in the construction activity consume much fuel and emits a significant amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This requires the policy makers to come up with strategies that will ensure successful management of vehicles on the road and reduction of traffic congestion (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). Similarly, adequate management of aircraft can save some amount of fuel consumption as well as the amount of carbon emitted. Efficient management of aircraft may involve controlling landings and takeoffs. The other sectors such as mining and agriculture have increased demand for transportation of goods. The increase in demand for more vehicles creates demand for more roads and other means of transport (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). These activities have increased demand for fuel and consequent increase in carbon emission. The way the vehicles are used during normal operations affect the efficiency of the vehicle and this in turn affects the amount of carbon emission (Asariotis & Benamara, 2012). The transport managers and other regulatory agencies should minimize the highway speed limits in order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emission. The reduction in the average speed limit can lower the amount of carbon emission by up to two percent of carbon emission (U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). The overall impact of the speed limit on the carbon emission is dependent on the level of compliance on the minimum speed limit requirement. The policies should focus on pricing carbon in order to discourage the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The policy should come up with strategies to charge those emit more carbon into the environment U. S. Department of Transportation, 2012). Pricing of carbon will motivate people to utilize environmental friendly transport system and low cost fuels thus reducing the impact it has on climate change. Conclusion Transport industry contributes to climate change through emission of greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gases trap the solar rays and result to rising of global temperatures that cause climate change. Transport industry has influenced affected climate change because of high consumption of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the main greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and exert greater influence due to extended life of up to two hundred years. With technological innovations of low-carbon fuels, efficient vehicles and use of renewable sources, the transport industry can reduce carbon emission drastically and save the environment. Adequate management and policy implementation is essential for the reduction of carbon emission. References Asariotis, R. & Benamara, H. (2012). Maritime Transport and the Climate Change Challenge. USA: Routledge. Ryley, T. & Chapman, L. (2012). Transport and Climate Change. UK: Emerald Group Publishing. U. S. Department of Transportation, (2012). The Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Vol.1: Synthesis Report. 1-605. Retrieved on 23rd April 2014 from Http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/32000/32700/32779/DOT_Climate_Change_Report_-_April_2010_-_Volume_1_and_2.pdf Read More