Transportation/Travel

In the Facebook group Climate Steps that goes with this blog, we have been discussing traveling quite a bit, since it is one of the leading causes of C02 emissions (Wynes and Nicholas, 2071:  http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541).  One of my favorite graphs for illustrating their data is from Phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2017-07-effective-individual-tackle-climate-discussed.html.  (need to get permission to share the actual image.) Both graphs show that four of the top ten personal behaviors you can do to fight climate change deal with transportation/travel:  1) not owning a car, 2) fly less, and drive a 3) EV or a 4) hybrid, with the first being the most impactful.  Transportation, actually, equates to 80% of the carbon footprint of traveling (2018 REF), so we’ll talk about this first, and then talk about other ways of saving carbon while traveling below.

TRANSPORTATION

So first we talk about the various types of transportation, and how you can remove or minimize carbon output.  It started based on content from a post I wrote about calculating the carbon for the type of trip you take, but then we keep filling in more with discussions within our FB Climate Steps discussions and other resources.

These are in order of biggest carbon emissons impact per mile.

Flying

During three legs of a flight from Wyoming to Kuwait, I kept looking around at the hundreds of people who were probably not thinking about climate change at all. And I saw the amazing amount of trash generated with each meal delivered, with each blanket, set of headphones, and magazines wrapped in plastic, and I was heartsick.  Further, at that time, I had no idea how much carbon I was generating from an overseas flight.  Later I found out that “one mile in the air produces 53 pounds of carbon dioxide [CO2}.”  (blueskymodel.org/air-mile).  Flying is one of the fastest rising portions of carbon dioxide output (2018 REF). A trip across the US produces two metric tons of C02.  For individuals, it can be a huge proportion of their carbon output. (N. Geiling, Smithsonian Magazine, 2014.)  I, unfortunately, found out that nine trips I had to take one semester (7 for work) completely outweighed 25 years of my being a vegetarian. A vegetarian for 25 years – where has that gotten the world?  Further, as Peter Kalmus said in an 2016 article in ‘Yes’ magazine regarding planes also contributing to global warming, “[they] “emit mono-nitrogen oxides into the upper troposphere, form contrails, and seed cirrus clouds with aerosols from fuel combustion. These three effects enhance warming in the short term.”

What to do about it?  Here are some ideas:

  1. Choose the most fuel efficient airlines:  in the U.S. that includes Alaska, Frontier, and Spirit (have more economy seats), but not Virgin America.  Overseas, Norwegian Airlines is half again as efficient as British airways.  (via 2016 figures in https://www.treehugger.com/travel/how-make-air-travel-bit-less-damaging.html)
  2. Sit in economy:  “A 2009 study by World Bank calculated that first class seats have a carbon footprint up to 9 times bigger than their economy counterparts (via Geiling, Smithsonian)” See also: ….make-air-travel-bit-less-damaging.html; 2018 REF, 
  3. Fly during the day so contrails don’t trap heat at night.  …make-air-travel-bit-less-damaging.html
  4. Take a non-stop flight, as up to 50% of fuel use is takeoff and landing, make-air-travel-bit-less-damaging.html; REF.
  5. “I started refusing drink service, and just drinking my nalgene water bottle to save trash, because those bags and bags of plastic make me so so sad.”  Alanna via ClimateSteps on FB.
  6. In other ways, pack light. Fewer pounds, less fuel.
  7. Every flight – ask the attendants if the flight recycles.
  8. Carbon offset – as a last resort.  See the carbon offsetting page here.
  9. Electric and solar airplanes are being explored.  Consider investing to help move it along. Individuals make up 1/3 of investments. (pull in ref.)

More info:

Read this for more details.  Good article:  https://www.treehugger.com/travel/how-make-air-travel-bit-less-damaging.html; 

And for a nice, overarching perspective, with a great, great graph, see:  http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/life-after-oil/how-far-can-we-get-without-flying-20160211.

Driving

Driving does generates much less C02 than flying, apparently. (The NativeEnergy carbon calculator shows .05 tons for driving from DC to Morgantown, West Virginia, whereas flying would have been 0.42 tons).  For distances only three to five hours away, it would take the same time as flying, so as a result, driving is less costly overall.

However, overall – people drive a lot more than they fly, and with the current EPA rolling back fuel economy standards, things may be changing (Vox magazine, August 2018.) “Juanita Constible, a senior advocate for federal policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. About 60 percent of carbon pollution from transportation comes from passenger vehicles, while airplanes account for only 9 percent, she said, adding that if we can replace older, fossil-fuel cars with cars using renewably generated, zero-carbon electricity, we will address a significant part of the climate challenge.” (Wash Post, 2018)

And there are other things to consider.  First, think of all the toxins generated by building those lovely tar roads, and then think of all the greenhouse gases for building cars for every individual on the planet. I’m not sure the planet comes out ahead.  Certainly the animals don’t:  “In Ontario alone there are an estimated 14,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions a year – 5 to 10 per cent of all accidents.” (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/culture/article-the-human-and-financial-toll-of-wildlife-vehicle-collisions/.)

So, climate (and wildlife-saving) steps:

Your car

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I don’t drive that often at times.  Once I finish hauling renovation supplies occasionally, I will be selling my car.

Car Type

  1. Don’t buy an SUV! “As oil prices have declined, more people in the United States and Europe are buying larger S.U.V.s, pushing up transportation emissions further.”  Instead, use this tool if you have to buy a new car:  http://climatefriendlycars.climatecentral.org/results/?state=MD.
  2. Hybrids Score!  Prices are going down for hybrids and electrics, (and currently gas prices are increasing (ref), … This article presents some good things to consider when buying,  https://www.wired.com/brandlab/2017/03/5-things-know-going-hybrid-electric/, including that if you drive a lot, the extra cost of a hybrid will pay for itself in terms of gas savings (nevermind the CO2 savings!).  Fyi, using a hybrid or EV are the #4 and #1 top ways , respectively, to ‘draw down’ greenhouse gases in terms of transport, as per https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/transport.
  3. Electric vehicles (EV).  In eight years, supposedly fossil-fueled cars will be in the small minority. (Froelich, 2017; Ilsr.org podcast 2017), although adoption is slower in countries despite incentives (REF). But right now fossil fuels still rule.  The latest figure I could find on the market for electrical vehicles (EV) is 2%.  But things are changing – I have a friend who just bought an electric car.  (I have a hybrid.) There’ s a plug-in minivan out now (Chrysler Pacifica), and an compact SUV (Volvo XC60). VW, as a result of its stupid, selfish, and endangering behavior in cheating emissions tests, among its penalties, has to invest $2 billion in electric-car-charging infrastructure, as well as promote zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs; Holmes, 2018).

    But it isn’t a simple answer yet – and strongly depends on where you live:

    1. First, an EV is a more expensive car than a hybrid (but check out leasing), but prices are coming down (Ilsr.org podcast 2017), you can save money if you charge it during non-peak hours, the batteries are lasting longer, manufacturing it requires fewer emissions, and you need fewer tuneups, repairs, etc.  No mufflers are needed and no trips to the gas stations! Also, the range is extending, from 25 miles battery only – to 238 miles (Ilsr.org podcast 2017; Froelich, 2017; https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-reichmuth/new-numbers-are-in-and-evs-are-cleaner-than-ever; Holmes, 2018).
    2. A good summary of the infrastructure needed for EV charging is in the (Ilsr.org podcast 2017), regarding public/roadways, but chargers are also needed at the office.
    3. The type of charger can depend on the type of EV (e.g., high-voltage.)
      1. And the clincher – in terms of CO2 production, one has to consider the source of the electricity.  If you don’t buy electricity from renewable sources or have solar panels, the electricity to charge your car could be coming from a coal plant.  (https://www.wired.com/brandlab/2017/03/5-things-know-going-hybrid-electric/.)  Some say that is still better, believe it or not (ref:  https://southwestecomotoring.com/2017/11/27/a-guide-to-the-half-truths-used-to-attack-electric-vehicles/) than a burning gas directly in a vehicle. (pull in new study which confirms) But others it’s still an issue: https://www.citylab.com/environment/2015/06/where-electric-vehicles-actually-cause-more-pollution-than-gas-cars/397136/.  Powering an EV car is much worse in the east (coal), than west (cleaner).   However, “most power is not 100% coal.”  I live in the east and I buy 100% wind energy.  If you can, pair your electric car with purchasing renewable energy.
        “the average EV in the US now produces emissions equivalent to a hypothetical gasoline car achieving 73 MPG.” (https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-reichmuth/new-numbers-are-in-and-evs-are-cleaner-than-ever.)

Recommended References

4. Solar Future!  See:  https://futurism.com/fully-solar-powered-car-hitting-road-2019/.   The Toyota Prius 2010 does have an option to have solar panels on top, but it adds only 4 mpg to the range, according to the article above, which does help.  Similarly for the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt, the Audi A8, and the Mazda 929; they run mostly auxiliary functions.  More info is available on solar cars in general at: https://evobsession.com/solar-cars-101-guide-basics-solar-powered-vehicles/.  And more vehicles are coming, one in late 2019 that uses solar panels, but also moss as an air filter.  bizarre. https://www.facebook.com/NowThisFuture/videos/2270106716363829/.

5. Overall. For these eco-friendly cars, the federal government still (yay) provides incentives, and many, many states do as well (including access to the carpool lane.)  https://www.wired.com/brandlab/2017/03/5-things-know-going-hybrid-electric/.

Other ways to minimize carbon with cars

Taxis, Lyfts, Ubers, etc…, aka Microtransit

The idea behind Lyfts and Ubers, not so much taxis, was to be car shares, or dial-a-rides/demand responsive transit. People would buy fewer cars, there’d be less traffic congestion.

  1. Lyfts and Ubers may have started off this way, but now many times they are just taxi services, sitting and idling, or driving around – increasing traffic overall (2017), often while waiting for one individual customer, and not picking up as many as buses (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/10/bus-best-public-transit-cities/574399/).   People also prefer to take instead of public transportation (REF). There is benefit for specialized services, such as for disabled folks, but too much can lead to less money for buses (REF). The best climate step is to avoid taxis/lyfts/ubers or only choose the share ride option.  Other articles:
    1. 2016 – https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/21/uber-lyft-helping-hurting-environment-climate-change.
  2. One night in a moment of weakness I took a taxi home from the airport instead of the metro (I am lucky I have the choice.)  While driving home, the taxi driver told me he had been waiting in line (meaning idling!) for one a half hours.  He also talked non-stop.  Metro, metro, metro.

Public Transportation

Speaking of… how much impact does commuting via public transportation have in terms of carbon?   Mass transit is the #2 way to ‘draw down’ greenhouse gases in terms of transportation, as per https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/transport, via the Drawdown scenario model.

  1. School buses. Many cities are finding out that the first step is to electrify their large fleet of school buses (two times buses and rail combined), also in large part to protect the kids from fumes they are exposed to daily (a statement from Tamara Dzubay, a clean energy specialist in Chicago, in Holmes, 2018). They are expensive: $230,000 (including charging system) to $109,000 for diesel, but it will save health money in the long run, never mind climate change. Supporting your local city in this action is a great climate step.
  2. Public Transport Buses  – LA is adding their first electric buses!  (https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/electric-double-decker-buses-los-angeles-foothill-transit/527464/), as is Columbus, OH: https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/columbus-oh-electric-buses/526823/.  Jarrett Walker, writing for the Atlantic, notes that buses are still the best compared to ride-shares (see above) and mini-motorized machines (see below) in terms of picking up the most passengers, and costs (based on driver salary)
  3. Chicago has been using some electric buses for two years. Two great quotes from this article: https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2016/12/chicago-sees-benefits-of-electric-buses/:

“Over the life span of each bus, Chicago expects to save $300,000 on fuel.”

“Switching to an electric bus is like taking 23 cars off the road.”

So Chicago will be buying some more buses in the near future, as will Austin and Houston, TX, and others, who are and will be saving taxpayer money (Ilsr.org podcast 2017). And as Walker, 2018 says: “a city’s bus serive is as good as its leaders and voters want it to be.” So vote bus.

Make bus rides fun with crazy image filters!

“Even at current prices, electric buses become cheaper than diesel 12 years into their 16-year life span.” Humes, 2018.

The Metro/Subway (coming)


Mini-Motorized Machines

Just posted a blog about this – running down the costs and benefits!  Check out: https://climatesteps.org/2018/08/31/mini-motorized-machines/.

Female_rider_on_Egret_One_eScooter
Image by Alex Genz, CC-BY-SA: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

By SHIP!

Believe or not, cruise ships can make less of an impact than flying.  Try it out in the various carbon calculators.  However, ship efficiency per passenger should be taken into effect.  Larger cruise ships actually has 1/2 the footprint of a smaller tourist boat.  This isn’t always evident from the climate calculator. https://climateone.org/audio/mindful-travel-age-climate-change.

There’s another means though, that is the most adventurous way to travel, definitely.  Finding a spot on a cargo ship.  See this woman’s post about travel back to Europe from America. https://www.wired.com/story/the-ultimate-carbon-saving-tip-travel-by-cargo-ship?mbid=social_fb

“Cargo ships do emit a lot of greenhouse gases, but it works out to a lot less per ton [than flying].”  Adding a person hardly makes a dent in the equation.

The TRAIN!!

After walking, which is admittedly for short-distances only, this is by far the winner in terms of

  1. Fun – https://adventuresacrosstheyears.wordpress.com/2016/12/20/train-to-texas-a-timescape/)
  2. Roominess – oh the leg room!  and plus you can get up and walk around to the lounge cars, viewing cars, dining cars – and hopefully one day soon in the U.S. – gym cars.
  3. Noise level. They are generally quite quiet (and kids running up and down the aisle get lectures.) I sleep well on trains, and better yet, I write well on trains.
  4. No bag security check!
  5. Often, there is free wi-fi.  In my eight long-distance train trips so far, half had free wi-fi.
  6. Tourist views (Oh and people-watching).  There are Big windows from which you watch the world go by in a comfy reclining chair (with footrest.)  And great sights: Train adventure.
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Train from Austin to Longview, TX
  • Carbon tons from ‘train-ing’ halfway across the US: 0.02. Carbon tons flying back: 0.53. (NativeEnergy.com and …)  See Train-ing Ourselves for more info.  
    1. FYI – solar trains are here!  There’s a partly solar train in India, but now there’s a fully solar train in Australia:  https://www.facebook.com/interestingengineeringvideos/videos/2123080081248377/

    • It is a loser, though, in a couple ways.

    1. There is no bag check, so security is a little lower.
    2. Travel Time:
      1. Flight to New Orleans from DC, about 6 hours including time in airport and on flight.  Not including delays, of course.
      2. Train to New Orleans from DC, about 28 hours including time in train station.

    However, the last one is changing rapidly (pun intended).  Many European trains now take less time to get from point A to B than flying:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-09/high-speed-rail-now-rivals-flying-on-key-global-routes.

    By the way, I just took a sleeper car for the first time – that is nice if you have the money (and if you do, this money would help support Amtrak, where it is needed.)  Here’s a brief summary with pictures of what a sleeper berth looks like:  https://adventuresacrosstheyears.wordpress.com/2018/10/28/sleeper-car-on-the-train/.

    The Hyperloop

    Well, we’ll see.

    Biking,  Walking, and other Human-powered Transport

    Well – of course this one is the least carbon-producing transport system of all (we as humans do still produce greenhouse gases, put we would be anyway if we were traveling on a plane.)

    This one applies for commuting and recreation mostly.  Although, if you need to travel a short distance from one city to another, it may be useful.  Just leave plenty of time for the later.  The 6-hour flight or 28-hour train from DC to New Orleans becomes 102 hours biking according to Google maps, which is based on an algorithm that does not including stopping for hotels, meals, and muscle cramps.

    But the shorter the distance, the better (best) these human-powered options become.  They are comparatively zero carbon, inexpensive for the commuter, needs less infrastructure, healthier for all, and happiest.  Happiest?  Besides being in the great urban outdoors, walking and biking commutes are the most predictable of commutes, thus lessening stress.  Walking to work in Arlington, VA, provides 91% commute satisfaction (biking 81%), while the train/driving provides 37-41% commute satisfaction https://mobilitylab.org/2018/01/24/arlington-residents-bike-walk-work-predictable-happy-healthy-journeys/.   If only the metro was a reliable as many European trains (it’s improving), I have the feeling there’d be more competition there.

    Let’s get back to “healthier:”  From the same article above (referencing this study here.): “A recent study of commuters in the United Kingdom found that bicyclists were 41 percent less likely to die from major health events – such as heart disease or cancer – than those who took passive modes of transportation.”, and “those who walk to work had a 27[-36] percent lower risk.”  Plus then there are fewer fumes.  Even electric cars usually generate carbon dioxide at the original power source – the electricity-generating source is still primarily coal in the USA (ref needed.).

    Since I joined Capital Bikeshare:

    Also, they can be very practical.  Bike shares are especially prominent in within university systems. (my picture), which can span blocks and blocks:  think students trying to get to classes across campus – on time.  Also, whether at a campus or in a city, there are cargo bike modifications, bikes that carry a cargo space for kids , etc., that are easily maneuverable and take less parking.  Fewer roads, parking spaces, etc are needed (and concrete and tar to build that infrastructure. From a UK source:

    “While a 3.5 metre-wide single lane can transport 2,000 people an hour in cars, the same lane can be used to transport 14,000 people on bicycles – and this doesn’t even take into account the space saved on parking.”

    That is just way, way cool.  I had no idea it was that many.   Even if we include the mini-vehicles (see above), we’d save room.  But with biking/walking, we’d be a lot healthier.

    Oh, wait, there’s more!  Besides the actual transportation vehicle – what else can we do while traveling to save on greenhouse gases?

    TRAVELING

    The article link below talks about: choosing one’s destination; researching accommodations, embracing one place, acting local, eating local (and less meat), bringing own reusables, avoiding water bottles, and choosing souvenirs.   Nice article. https://www.treehugger.com/travel/how-make-travel-more-sustainable.html;  here’s a similar one: https://greensandblue.com/blogs/news/tips-for-green-travel.

    What to do while waiting around in airports and hotels?  More info to come.

     

    Finally, how about not traveling?

    1. Conduct teleconferences!  At least two of our FB members set up teleconferences as their first choice before traveling.  This is becoming more and more in fashion!
    2. Telework at least one day a week (great for writing.).   So many organizations now, especially in cities with horrible commuting, allow this.  In  Arlington, VA, about 17 percent teleworked one or more days per week. (REF.)  On average within (region) teleworking occurs ##% of …
    3. Sometimes travel can be necessary  – a means to an end, if it is critical to fight climate or save the environment, such as by 1) seeing and recording the effects of climate change; 2) investigating the impacts of climate change on wildlife and people; and 3) making conservation and change actually happen.  Ecotourism also can help, but should be weighed by the distance traveled.  https://climateone.org/audio/mindful-travel-age-climate-change.

    Some general references/resources:

    1. https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/transport
    2. https://climateone.org/audio/mindful-travel-age-climate-change.
    3. A 10-minute summary video of the history and factors behind public transportation in the U.S., compared occasionally to Europe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cjfTG8DbwA
    4. https://mobilitylab.org/.
    5. Humes, E. 2018. VW’s Silver Lining. Sierra Club, October.