The issue of transport and the environment is a paradox. While transport activities support increased mobility demands in areas ranging from rural to international trade, these activities have resulted in growing level of motorisation and congestion. This has led to the linkage of this sector to environmental problems.
Energy is consumed in transportation. When transport depended on people and animals’ energy came from the food they ate, when sails were used, it came from the wind. The Industrial Revolution meant that energy that drove transport came primarily from coal and since the middle of 20th century from oil.
Coal and oil release gases that pollute the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming. It is whether burning oil for energy is a significant factor such that reducing the use of oil could slow or reverse global warming. The issue is being debated across the world and the outcome will deeply affect the transport sector.
Energy is consumed to transport freight. When transport depended on people and animals, energy came from the food they ate. When they used sails, it came from the wind. The Industrial Revolution meant that energy that drove transport came primarily from coal and since the middle of the 20th century from oil. Coal and oil release gases that pollute the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming. In the current phase of global warming, it is whether burning oil for energy is a significant factor such that reducing the use of oil could slow or reverse global warming. The issue is being debated across the world and the outcome will deeply affect the transport segment.
The options are being considered to reduce the adverse effect of transport on environment.
- Make vehicles more efficient to reduce use of energy
- Electric vehicles to be developed-electric motors are most efficient primary movers.
- Generate clean energy through fuel cells which are significantly efficient than heat engines.
- Streamlining the design surface vehicles which spend upto 75% of their energy on air-resistance.
- Recycle the energy normally lost in braking.
The transport sector is quite often subsidised by the government particularly through creation of infrastructure as roads and bridges. When the owner and regulator are just different departments of the same government, there is a risk that regulations will not be complied to.
Major transport facilities can affect quality of life by creating physical borders, increasing noise levels, generating odours, reducing urban aesthetics and affecting built heritage.
