How Can We Reduce The Impact Of The Automobile Industry On The Environment?

Between 80% and 90% of an automobile's environmental impact is due to fuel consumption and  the emission of greenhouse gases, but fuel is far from the only issue caused by driving. Plastics, battery acids, and other toxic components remain on the Earth long after we stop using cars, which is indicative of the extent to which human beings should rethink their dependence on vehicles. What are the main problems posed by the car industry to sustainability, and how can we reverse the trend?


The Problem With Fuel
National Geographic points out that fuel raises problems way before it is burned for energy. The process of extracting it from the earth consumes a great deal of energy - enough to damage local ecosystems. Then there is the transportation of fuel, which is also energy dependent, and which risks major disasters such as oil spills. The damage caused by some of the biggest disasters in history - including the Gulf War Oil Spill - is incalculable. This spill in particular resulted in the release of  around 240 million gallons into the Persian Gulf, killing thousands of fish and marine mammals. Once burned, fuel emits carbon monoxide and other toxins that are harmful to human and animal health.


Electric, Hybrid And Secondhand Cars
Hybrid cars (which burn less fuel) and fully electric cars have been touted as two useful means to reduce fuel consumption and to battle the greenhouse effect. A study by the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory indicates, however, that at least for now, hybrid cars require more energy to produce than conventional cars (i.e. during manufacturing, they emit more greenhouse gases and burn more fossil fuels). This is particularly true when it comes to producing hybrid batteries, which  emit more gases like sulfur oxide. They are still a greener choice, of course, when you consider the lifetime emissions produced by conventional cars. Another solution is to  reduce greenhouse emissions via secondhand car purchase. This enables users to make the most of car components, instead of allowing cars to end up in landfills and car yards way before their time. When buying secondhand, purchasers should consider fuel consumption and type of car (hybrid vs conventional).


Roadworks And Construction
Cars result in the need for more roads, highways, and other types of infrastructure that once again require energy and resources to build. Roads also erode into natural ecosystems, having a big impact on wildlife. Interventions to reduce the need for more roads include encouraging people to use public transport, the  building of wider roads, the building of more cycling lanes, and making buses free. In reality, any solution to overbuilding is complex and requires various strategies working together at once.


The auto industry affects the environment both in manufacture and through the burning of fuel. The popularity of cars makes it difficult to reduce the need for roads, but government measures such as encouraging the use of public transport can help. So, too, can encouraging buyers to opt for secondhand or fully electric vehicles so as to reduce environmental impact.