Throughout unit five of our chemistry course we explored gases and atmospheric chemistry. We learned about the dangers that an overabundance of carbon dioxide has on our environment. Humans are ultimately the main producers of carbon dioxide and transportation plays a huge role in contributing to our greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
Almost every Cedar Ridge High School student goes and gets picked up from school each day either by getting a ride, or taking city transportation. Although many people prefer getting a ride from their parents, city transportation surprisingly plays a huge role in reducing air pollution.
In 2016, Vehicles emitted over 202 Megatons worth of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada alone. Some of the major greenhouse gases that are emitted into our environment by transportation include: hydrocarbons which cause smog, nitrogen oxides, which help in forming ground level ozone, carbon monoxide which is very toxic to humans, and carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. If you are riding on public transport, you are ultimately helping to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by leaving your car at home. A bus with just seven passengers is more fuel efficient than a car carrying one person. Buses produce as little as 20% as much carbon monoxide per mile as a car only carrying one person.
They also produce much less hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide. This ultimately helps you reduce your own carbon footprint.
Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by taking public transport is definitely a more tiring and time consuming activity, but it is ultimately saving our planet. Seeing as buses produce just 20% as much carbon monoxide
per mile as a car only carrying one person really makes me wonder why we shouldn’t all just try to take public transit. Although it is a timely activity, it could be the difference between having fresh air, or having air pollution. I think there is still work to be done in order to reduce the personal carbon footprint of buses. One way to combat this is by installing an electric battery powered engine. This could potentially cut our greenhouse gas emissions caused by transportation even further allowing for us to live in a cleaner environment, for a longer period of time.
Questions:
After reading this blog-post, has your opinion changed on using cars as a mode of transportation?
Has your opinion changed on public transportation? Why? Or why not?
References:
Middleton, James. “Transit's Role in Environmental Sustainability.” Federal Transit Administration, United States Department of Transportation, 14 Dec. 2015, www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/environmental-programs/transit-environmental-sustainability/transit-role.
Sitther, Vijji. “Vehicles, Air Pollution, and Human Health.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 23 July 2018, www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/vehicles-air-pollution-and-human-health#.XDPMWc9Kjs0.
“Where Do Canada's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Come From?” From Risk to Resilience, Prairie Climate Centre, 7 Mar. 2018,
I really enjoyed how you made your post relatable and interesting to read. I definitely agree that using public transportation is a very simple action almost everyone can take to help reduce our carbon footprint. After reading your post, my attitude towards taking public transportation has changed. I believe that especially once the weather is warmer, people will be more inclined to start taking buses, considering that many people don't take public transportation because passengers are confined to a pre-set schedule.
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