The increasingly apparent climate changes and frequent calamities like flooding, heat waves, and wildfires have forced people to pay attention to their surroundings.
People are now increasingly turning towards sustainability to find ways to contribute to a sustainable future. The transportation sector, dominated by fossil fuel-burning vehicles, is the biggest contributor to climate change. Let's discuss how changes are reshaping it.
1. Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Electric vehicles are an excellent alternative to the traditional gasoline cars we're used to. Your typical cars burn gas or petrol to get power, releasing carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides into the air around us. In contrast, electric vehicles use rechargeable batteries that use electrical power and consume energy more efficiently.
Transitioning to EVs would also slow down our dependence on limited fossil fuels. With the rise in global petrol and LNG prices, EVs are becoming cheaper to recharge. As more people switch towards EVs, charging centers are becoming increasingly common as well.
However, electric vehicles still have a long way to go to achieve full sustainability due to battery challenges arising from energy-intensive metal mining, lack of recycling, and manufacturing systems still contributing significantly to environmental impacts.
2. Long-Term Car Rental
Long term car rental is a service that allows you to rent a car for several weeks, months, or even years. When people buy cars, they typically own them until the vehicles land in the junk, and this approach asks for as many cars to be produced as the number of humans who need them. However, rental cars are shared resources that are rented out to multiple individuals for varied trips and purposes. Renting maximizes the resource utilization of every vehicle, making it the less wasteful option and decreasing the overall demand for new cars.
Since customers are increasingly becoming environment-conscious, long-term car rental services are also adapting accordingly; these companies now carefully select fuel-efficient cars with advanced technologies and fewer emissions. Consequently, these allow for fewer but less environmentally damaging cars to be on the road.
3. Public Transportation
When people opt to share vehicles, cars on the road decrease, causing fewer emissions. This is a major reason why public transport continues to be successful around the globe. Alongside reducing emissions, public transport also helps reduce road congestion, noise pollution, and other traffic-related issues, resulting in shorter travel times and smooth traffic flows. The public transportation system is also evolving to meet sustainability requirements. Sustainable modes of transport like electric buses and trains and BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) systems are gradually replacing the conventional methods.
4. Active Transportation
Active transport involves the use of vehicles that are powered by human energy. Bicycling and walking are the two primary modes of active transportation. It is an excellent form of transport with the smallest ecological footprint. Active transport offers numerous benefits for both individuals and the environment. It keeps one healthy and active and urges them to spend time outdoors rather than staying cooped up in a car.
Active transport eliminates direct emissions caused by motorized forms of transportation. However, it is an ineffective transportation choice for longer commutes, especially in harsh weather.
Endnote
While shifting towards sustainable transportation may take time, every small step counts. Whether choosing long-term car rental, opting for electric vehicles, or embracing active transportation, each choice helps reduce emissions and promote a cleaner, healthier planet. We should do what we can to protect our planet for future generations. Minor adjustments that we make today will translate into a liveable world tomorrow.