cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20597671

archived (Wayback Machine)

Main Takeaways

  • Internal combustion vehicles – those that run on gasoline and diesel fuel – produce CO2 and a number of air pollutants.
  • Over recent decades, big improvements have been made in reducing vehicle-emission pollution; however, it is still problematic at a global scale.
  • Transport accounts for one fifth of CO2 emissions globally; of this portion the majority comes from road transport (cars, motorcycles, buses, and taxis).
  • Rising atmospheric CO2 from vehicle emissions and other human activities has been driving recent global warming.
  • Air pollution from vehicles has health effects like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and even an increased risk of getting cancer.
  • You can reduce your vehicle pollution by using more sustainable transport options like electric vehicles, ride sharing, walking, bicycles, and public transport.

Related: Some of that air pollution actually counters the greenhouse effect, and climate models have so far underestimated this.