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Climate - Mitigation of the climate change in the Caribbean

New transportation technologies and policies

The transport sector is a major and rapidly growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Accumulative carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles and transport equipment are rising by a significant 2.5% per year. Transportation also contributes to local and regional pollution problems through its emissions of carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur oxides (SO_x) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x). This sector's heavy reliance on liquid fossil fuels makes controlling greenhouse gas emissions particularly difficult.

Automobiles are the transport sector's largest consumer of petroleum and its largest source of carbon dioxide emissions. The developed world has the highest per-capita ownership of private cars today (484 cars per 1,000 people in North America in 1996, compared to 32 in South America), although developing countries are expected to account for most of the future growth in automobile use.

• New technologies can increase the efficiency of automobiles and reduce emissions per kilometer traveled:

  • new materials and designs can reduce vehicle's mass

  • with improved transmission, engines can operate closer to their optimal speed and load conditions

  • technological improvements in combustion-engine and petroleum formulations

  • hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles

• Switching to less carbon-intensive fuels can also reduce carbon dioxide emissions:

  • biodiesel and other biofuels

• Renewable energy technologies are becoming more and more competitive.

• Emissions can be further cut through changes in maintenance and operating practices:

  • regular engine tune-ups can save 2-10 % fuel

• Policies to reduce road traffic congestion can save both emissions and costs.

• Urban planners can encourage low-emissions transport:

  • switching from automobiles to buses

    • Case study: Curitiba Integrated Bus System

  • promoting walking, bicycling and car pooling

  • limiting automobile access to certain roads

  • the greatest potential is in rapidly developing cities where cars are still in limited use

• Policies to reduce air traffic congestion can cut emissions while improving safety.

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