Reducing Emission's in the Transport Sector
Roads and highways are constantly being expanded and traffic seems to be never ending. With 4 out 5 Canadians commuting to work in their own vehicles carbon emissions are bound to increase. Around 24% of Canada’s emissions come from transportation. Canadians that use cars as their transportation emit an average of 206 grams of CO2 per kilometer. This is an insane amount of pollution we are putting out which can be significantly reduced. Obviously, we live in a world where you simply can’t just stop driving but you can try to reduce how much you drive.
Carpooling is a very effective way to limit the number of cars on the road. With tech advancements ride-sharing services make it very easy for you to network and connect with people that may be headed to the same location as you. Not only will this reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it also saves you money. Gas prices are increasing and commuting costs begin to add up quickly. Splitting the gas cost between 4-5 people will go a long way.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been on the rise and are the future of transportation. With many countries looking to ban diesel and gas cars in the near future EVs will become the norm. EVs are by far a much cleaner option and produce significantly lower emissions compared to gas fueled cars. The only greenhouse gas emission associated with EVs is through the generation of electricity. They are also cost efficient. The average Canadian driver travelling 20 000km can save $2000 a year on fuel. These cars start at around $33 000 and there are many Government incentives offered which can reduce the cost as the government encourages the purchase of EVs. These vehicles can be powered by clean renewable energy sources like solar panels and small wind turbines. Pairing a home solar panel or microgeneration wind turbine system with your EV will be a very cost-efficient option and will reduce your carbon emissions. Public charging stations can also implement the use of solar or wind systems to reduce emissions.
Public transit is another great way to keep our carbon footprint low. Buses emit 20% less carbon monoxide compared to a car with a single occupant. Most cities have begun replacing diesel run buses with electric and hybrids. Although the costs to make these vehicles are high, they are offset by many other factors like no fuel, lower repair costs and most importantly decreased emissions.
At the end of the day, it is up to us how we shape our future. We can act now and make the right choices or regret our choices later. Avoid unnecessary trips, carpool with friends and family, use the public transit and bike or walk for all your local trips to reduce your carbon footprint. We can all do our part to keep our earth healthy and clean.
