The US could slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 65% by 2050, according to a new report from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

The report, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from US Transportation, identifies “reasonable” actions on three fronts, technology, policy and consumer behaviour, that could deliver the reduction.

Authors David L. Greene of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy and Steven E. Plotkin of Argonne National Laboratory identify three possible scenarios of improvement to efficiency in transport that could reduce emissions from 17% up to 65%.

The right policies, such as performance standards and pricing mechanisms, could pull existing advanced transportation technologies to market, as well as supporting future developments, to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Existing technologies can already lead to improvements in efficiency and reduced emissions, says the report, and substantial gains could be achieved by moving to a fuel mix of electricity, biofuels and hydrogen.

The report highlights freight truck emissions, in particular, which could be slashed by 30-50% just using current technology, with further gains possible over the next few decades.

“By supporting meaningful policies as citizens and choosing advanced technologies as consumers, we will drive the nation toward a cleaner, safer transportation future,” says Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center.

For further information:
www.pewclimate.org
www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/Reducing_GHG_from_transportation.pdf

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