Climate change and public transport

Traffic has a genuine effect

Traffic is a major source of greenhouse gasses and also a major player in global climate change. Carbon dioxide emissions have the greatest effect on climate change due to their great amount. Three quarters of all carbon dioxide comes from energy production and traffic, and over one fifth comes from deforestation.

In Finland, traffic in the source of 20 % (of which road traffic causes over 70 %) off all carbon dioxide emissions. Traffic emissions have not diminished despite the developing engine technology. Road traffic has increased and people buy bigger cars than before. By developing public transportation, we wish to encourage people to travel more by bus and thus help in keeping the air and environment of Tampere clean.

The climate and air quality improve with public transport

Fuel use produces carbon dioxide as end product. Each petrol litre produces 2350 grams and diesel litre 2660 grams of carbon dioxide. Even catalysators cannot lower carbon emissions. The only way to lower them is to use less fuel.

Air quality is worse in densely trafficked urban environments, in which most car trips are short.

Everyone can stop climate change with everyday choices. One good choice is to use public transport!

Sources

Finnish Transport Safety Agency
Ministry of the Environment

Literature (in Finnish)

Toiviainen, Pasi: Ilmastonmuutos. Nyt. Otava, 2007
Keskitalo, Jorma: Maapallon muuttuva ilmasto. Tammi, 2005
Flannery, Tim: Ilmaston muuttajat. Otava, 2006

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, presentations (in Finnish)

Osa 1: Luonnontieteellinen perusta. Yhteenveto päätöksentekijöille.
Osa 2: Vaikutukset, sopeutuminen ja haavoittuvuus. Yhteenveto päätöksentekijöille.
Osa 3: Ilmastonmuutoksen hillitseminen. Yhteenveto päätöksentekijöille.