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Transport accounts for a significant portion of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, leading to global warming. Governments are promoting sustainable transport, such as walking, cycling, bioethanol, electric and hybrid vehicles, and public planning to reduce emissions and promote health. Tax breaks, education programs, and carpooling systems are also used to encourage sustainable transport.
Transport accounts for 20% to 25% of the world’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. Carbon in the atmosphere becomes a greenhouse gas, which leads to global warming. Governments around the world are looking at different approaches to sustainable transport as a way to reduce carbon emissions. Sustainable transport is one that creates little or no pollution, such as walking or cycling. Electric and hybrid vehicles and vehicles powered by bioethanol can be considered forms of sustainable transport. Sustainable transport also refers to public planning and transport policy that aims to reduce carbon emissions and provide a fair and reasonable transfer of transport to all citizens.
Walking or cycling to work or school is considered the greenest form of transport because it uses human energy and does not release pollutants into the air. Many cities around the world encourage their citizens to walk or cycle by creating dedicated pedestrian and cyclist routes and education programs designed to teach people about alternative forms of transportation. Encouraging people to walk and cycle has the added benefit of directly contributing to people’s health and fitness.
Vehicles that use bioethanol, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are also forms of sustainable transport because they burn less fossil fuels. Bioethanol is a form of pure alcohol distilled from sugars in fruits and vegetables. Most cars today are capable of running on 10% bioethanol gasoline, and some can handle higher ethanol rates. In 2007, Portland, Oregon, became the first US city to require that all gasoline contain at least 10% bioethanol, with the rest of the state instituting the same standard in 2008. Several US states have since followed suit. Since 1977 in Brazil, all gasoline has to contain at least 20% bioethanol, and in 2008 Sweden introduced a fleet of bioethanol-electric hybrid buses into Stockholm’s public transport system.
Many city, state and federal governments around the world encourage their citizens to use sustainable vehicles and fuels by offering tax breaks, bonuses and other perks, such as free parking for people who use bioethanol and electric and hybrid cars. Education programs on sustainable fuel use teach people about driving methods that reduce fuel consumption and pollution. Some cities have created citywide carpooling systems or encourage carpooling in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Other sustainable transport programs include city planning that reduces urban sprawl and provides services within reasonable distance of residential areas. Many cities are also working to create public transport that runs on sustainable fuel and expand existing public transport systems to make them more accessible and convenient for more people.
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