Written by Aimee Stull
Edited by Mehak Bhatia & Emil Koch
Over recent years, transportation has catastrophically contributed to carbon emissions worldwide. The excessive usage of vehicles that burn fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. When sunlight touches the earth's surface, part of it reflects into space as heat. Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation light's heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. One key strategy to combat carbon emissions and stop the detrimental increase of climate change is promoting public transportation systems.
Public transportation can become a crucial sustainable alternative to personal vehicles like cars and motorcycles. Interestingly, 23% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from transportation and 80% from road transportation. Thus, any expansion of infrastructure and usage of public transportation could reduce the total number of vehicles on the road and, in turn, the number of greenhouse gasses entering the atmosphere. If all Americans opted to use public transportation for one mere day per week, it would lower US CO2 emissions by 33 metric tons per year, as estimated by the Union of Concerned Scientists. To illustrate this, the emissions saved would equal the yearly amount produced by 6.5 million cars!
Over and over again, numerous studies highlighted the advantages of public transportation. In fact, according to the Journal of Public Transportation, using public transportation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95%. Similarly, according to the American Public Transit Association, opting for public transit can cut individual carbon footprints by up to 95%.
Additional research reported in the journal Environmental Research Letters highlights a compelling approach to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, which involves a heightened focus on investing in public transportation. The study analyzed data from 167 countries and concluded that public transportation reduces CO2 emissions more effectively than individual behavior changes. Still, one shouldn't forget the significant impact carpooling and electric vehicles can have collectively: it starts with you.
A lot of public transportation programs in cities worldwide successfully reduced carbon emissions and improved the overall quality of life for residents.
For example, in Curitiba, Brazil, a bus rapid transit system was developed that eventually transported 2.3 million passengers per day, resulting in a significant drop in car usage. Consequently, approximately 27,000 tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions have been saved. Another example is Paris, France, where a bike-sharing program was implemented, and electric buses and trams were installed, ultimately lessening CO2 emissions by 35% in transportation between 2004 and 2014.
To summarize, public transportation is an important means of lowering carbon emissions in urban transportation networks. The evidence provided by countless studies proves its effectiveness in reducing carbon footprints and emissions. Cities worldwide created impactful public transportation programs. To aim towards a more sustainable future for all of humanity, we should give all we got to promote sustainable transportation systems!
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References:
[1] United Nations. "Sustainable Transport." https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabletransport; (05/08/2023)
Union of Concerned Scientists. "Cleaner, Smarter Transit: Advancing Public Transportation in the Era of Climate Change."
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/cleaner-smarter-transit-advancing-public-transportation-era-climate-change; (05/08/2023)
[2] Journal of Public Transportation. "Environmental Assessment of Passenger Transportation Should Include Infrastructure and Supply Chains: A Case Study of Automobile and Bus Systems." https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1027&context=jpt; (05/08/2023)
[3] American Public Transportation Association. "Public Transportation Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Conserves Energy." https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/Resources/resources/reportsandpublications/Documents/APTA_Environment_Energy_facts_2019.pdf; (05/08/2023)
[4] Environmental Research Letters. “Public Transportation Can Greatly Reduce Carbon Emissions”
https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326/page/submission-options
(5/08/2023)
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