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U.S. Drives Greenhouse Gas Emissions

It’s no secret that Americans have a major love affair with their cars. But did you know that we’re responsible for nearly half of all greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles around the world?

It’s not because we drive half the cars, either. In fact, Americans own only about 30 percent of the cars in use globally. But, we drive them a lot further and more often, our gasoline contains more carbon than that sold in other countries and our cars – especially SUVs and older-model small cars – get fewer miles to the gallon. Add it up, and we’re contributing more than our fair share as a nation to the problem of global warming.

So what can be done about it? Last year, the Senate passed a resolution to cap carbon emissions in the United States, but other than signaling lawmakers’ intent to address the problem, it carried no legal weight. Efforts to pass a law with real teeth in it have yet to be successful.

In the meantime, Americans can take several steps of their own:

• Combine errands and reduce trips to the store.
• Walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation more often.
• Make your next car a fuel-efficient automobile; consider buying a hybrid.
• Don’t leave the motor running in carpool lines, stand-still traffic, or while waiting for someone.
• Don’t drive aggressively; sudden acceleration and deceleration reduce fuel efficiency.

To read more about this story, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org