Transportation
The transportation industry has become a major player in global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the transport sector accounts for roughly a quarter of global CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. In the United States, the transportation sector surpassed the electric power industry as the biggest emitter of GHGs in 2016.
The transport sector is one of the largest sources of air pollution in urban areas. It includes cars, planes, and trains, as well as buses and light commercial vehicles. While the automobile was once considered to be the most polluting vehicle, recent data has shown that other modes of transport have a lower environmental impact.
The transport sector is expected to increase its carbon footprint for many years to come. As the population grows, the demand for mobility will continue to grow. This means the sector will remain a major source of climate change. But with the growing demand for transportation, there is an increased need for innovation to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of this sector.
Some of the innovations that are likely to be used are greener fuels and zero-emission vehicles. However, the most efficient way to reduce the emissions footprint of the transportation sector is to focus on improving energy efficiency.
Transport emissions are not only a problem for the environment, but they also affect economic growth. Transportation contributes to global GDP, but in developing countries, it can also be a major driver of GDP. Hence, if we want to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive global warming limit of 2 degrees Celsius, we have to do something about it. There are several ways to achieve this goal, including improved energy efficiency and stricter tailpipe emissions standards.
One example is improving the fuel efficiency of trucks and buses. Although these two modes of transport produce twice as much CO2 per mile as passenger vehicles, they have been making progress. For instance, manufacturers are making engines more efficient by developing more fuel-efficient engine designs.
Another example of a smart transportation move is electrification. Electric trains and planes are gaining in popularity. They can carry more people than conventional vehicles, but they still have a significant emissions footprint. By improving the performance of these vehicles, we can reduce the emissions from each mile of freight transported.
Even though the transportation sector has made a lot of progress in the fight against climate change, it is still the top emitter of GHGs. As a result, the global transportation industry has begun a push for the transition to electric mobility at an even faster rate. At the same time, private companies are beginning to commit to carbon neutrality by mid-century.
Innovation has not kept up with the growth in the transportation sector. Consequently, global carbon emissions have risen significantly. To curb this, we need to take action immediately. Many developing countries are already experiencing negative impacts from transport emissions. Yet, these countries are still expected to grow at a high rate. If we don’t address climate change soon, we could face a more dire situation than ever.
Land use and forestry
In the United States, the land sector is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The size of the carbon pool depends on the type of land and uses within the sector. For example, forests account for 96 percent of the land sector’s carbon sink. However, there are tradeoffs in land use.
Agricultural uses contribute a significant share of the land sector’s total emissions. Crops, livestock, and pastures are the primary sources of emissions. Livestock accounts for approximately double the emissions of crops. It is also the largest source of nitrous oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas.
Other sources of emissions include forest fires, deforestation, and land conversion to other uses. The largest land-use change since the 1980s has been from agriculture to CRP and urban uses. This transition offsets the loss of 17 million acres of forest to non-forest uses.
Forests play a key role in addressing climate change. They help to regulate rainfall patterns and provide essential services. Additionally, they store carbon and sequester carbon into the soils. Increasing tree cover and improving forest management can help to remove more carbon from the atmosphere. These actions also improve forest health, reduce extreme weather events, and enhance watershed protection.
The forest sector is responsible for about 25 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is primarily due to deforestation. Research indicates that expanding the number of trees can be the most effective way to build a carbon sink on land. A new initiative, REDD+, provides tools for combating deforestation in the tropics.
Forests are important because they help to regulate climate, provide essential services, and sustain the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people worldwide. Consequently, halting the degradation of forest ecosystems can greatly contribute to reducing global net emissions.
Land use is a dynamic, ever-changing sector. Because of this, it is difficult to determine the extent of the leakage from the sector. As a result, economic analysis of land and commodity markets is necessary to assess the magnitude of the leakage. Although payments for forestry can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they can also lead to increased emissions from other land uses.
During the past several decades, the land sector has grown in size. The total amount of carbon stored in the forest sector, including forests, grasslands, and croplands, has increased steadily. However, these areas have little to no incentive to switch to less-carbon intensive land uses. Therefore, a stronger role for the land sector in addressing climate change can be achieved through national carbon pricing programs.
There are three basic building blocks for transforming the global forest sector: afforestation, forest conservation, and sustainable forestry practices. Each of these can help to limit atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. While all three can help to mitigate climate change, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Forests are also the largest sources of greenhouse gases, especially deforestation. Deforestation leads to loss of biomass and soil carbon stocks. In addition, deforestation disrupts efforts to build resilience to climate impacts. By eliminating the emissions from deforestation, a country can reduce its overall greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent.
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