Every September 22, people celebrate World Car Free Day in defiance of our car dominated society. Fossil fuel powered cars are one of the biggest contributors to global warming causing greenhouse gases (GHGs) including carbon dioxide (CO2).
According to a 2004 study by Environmental Defense called, Global Warming on the Road [PDF], US automobiles and light trucks are responsible for nearly half of all GHGs emitted by automobiles globally.
The US has only five percent of the world’s population and thirty percent of the world’s automobiles, accounting for forty eight percent of the world’s automotive CO2 emissions. Compared to much of the rest of the world, American cars are driven farther, have lower fuel economy standards, and burn fuel with higher levels of carbon. Cars and trucks contribute around one quarter of all global warming causing emissions and US automobiles emit more than 1/5 of the nation’s total CO2 emissions.
People in the US are joining people around the world to push governments to help create permanent change to benefit and encourage pedestrians and cyclists.
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