Cars, Trucks, Airplanes, and Marine Vessels-all Greenhouse Emitters

Transportation plays a vital role in our economic system by providing the means to move goods from different parts of the world to one specific location. As nations modernize a modern and dependable transportation system is required but this comes at a very high price. The transportation sector is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to government and scientific data the transportation sector accounted for close to a third of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Cars, trucks and sports utility vehicles driven by U.S. citizens are to blame for about two-thirds of greenhouse emissions from the U.S. transportation sector. This problem can worsen as more passenger vehicles are put to use.  On a global scale about 15 percent of greenhouse emissions comes from automobiles, trucks, ships, airplanes, and other vehicles.

Cars are not the only source of greenhouse emissions as airplanes and marine vessels produce a large portion of the world's greenhouse emissions. This trend is only expected to increase as more people are using airplane transportation to move around the world and more goods are being carried via marine vessels due to the increase demand of foreign made products. As you read this article billions of goods are being transported all over the world via oceans, air, and land causing serious harm to our planet.

Measurements are being taken as we move forward. For example, in the United States the Department of Transportation is working with the automobile industry to increase mileage output per gallon of gasoline. By doing this the Department of Transportation is aiming at reducing the amounts of carbon emission from the transportation sector. The technology exists to dramatically increase fuel efficiency in new automobiles but governments must pass legislation to make automobile manufacturer use the available technology.