29% of all US greenhouse gas emissions
and 5% of global emissions are due to fossil-fuel powered transportation.
A number of strategies can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, such as using low-carbon fuels, increasing vehicle fuel economy, improving system efficiency and reducing travel that involves high levels of carbon emissions, according to a report released last by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
The majority of US transportation emissions (59%), come
from light-duty vehicles, followed by freight trucks at 19% and
aircraft at 12%. Between 1990 and 2007, greenhouse gas emissions
from U.S. transportation increased 27%, and accounted for almost
one-half of the total national increase during that period.
The report, while making no specific recommendations, analyzes the full range of strategies available to reduce transportation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Among specific findings:
- More fuel efficient gasoline vehicles could reduce per-vehicle emissions by 8% to 30%, hybrid vehicles 26%-54%, and plug-in hybrids 46%-75%.
- More direct routing of airline flights using NextGen technology and more efficient takeoffs and landings could reduce aviation greenhouse emissions by up to 10% by 2025.
- Reducing the number of vehicle-miles traveled through a combination of strategies, including improved public transportation, coordinated transportation and land use strategies, and greater opportunities for walking and biking–practices emphasized in the Department’s livability initiative–could reduce transportation greenhouse emissions 5% to 17% by 2030.
The report also discusses policy options for implementing these strategies, such as efficiency standards, transportation planning and investment, market-based incentives, research and development, and economy-wide carbon policies.
DOT said it has already begun work in these areas–pointing to new fuel economy standards established earlier this month, the NextGen iniative to modernize air traffic systems, and the Department’s Sustainable Communities Partnership with EPA and HUD.
The report, Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It is available as a pdf at the link below.
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