The Silent Killer of the Climate Crisis
Air quality is often called the “silent killer” of the climate crisis. Long term exposure to poor air quality is responsible for between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths in the UK each year. Although there are a lot of causes for poor air quality as discussed in our Air Quality section of the Environmental Calendar, we would like to focus on just one a little deeper. The impact of using cars.
Dieselgate or Emissionsgate, started in 2015 when the German car production company, Volkswagen (VW), was told to recall millions of vehicles after a violation of the Clean Air Act noticed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the UK 1.2 million VW cars and vans were let loose on UK roads without properly certified on-road emission controls. This has sparked a global debate on car emissions and what can be done to reduce the health harm to us all.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has shown that on-road emission levels of diesel cars are around 7 times higher than the limit set by the Euro 6 emission standard in 2015. Between 2000 and 2014 there has been a 40% decrease in air pollution, however the levels of nitrogen oxides are still higher than standards set by the ICCT. Something has to be done about the way we transport ourselves around the country.
In the production and manufacturing lines there needs to be an improvement in approval testing, more spot-checks of ‘in-use’ vehicle emissions. The emissions tests must also be reflective of real-world urban conditions. Furthermore the manufacturers must not put profit before reducing emissions and protecting our health and the environment.
At a governmental level we need to reassess the viability of diesel and potentially petrol cars in built up urban areas. The use of congestion charge zones in London has significantly reduced the air and noise pollution in central London.
Road transport is responsible for 22% of total carbon dioxide pollution in the UK contributing to poor air quality and climate change. There are over 34 million vehicles on our roads of which there are 28 million cars. Often the practical and easy option of transport is the car. One of the easiest things we can all do as individuals to reduce our carbon footprint and road emissions is to reduce the number of journeys we need to take and consider greener or more efficient alternatives.
Try to minimise short journeys by walking, cycling or you can consider lift sharing with neighbours and friends. Short journeys are more polluting and more expensive as they utilise more fuel per journey and the engine needs to work harder to increase the speed rather than maintain it. The engine also works harder when the engine is cold. Driving carefully with minimal stops and at a steady speed will also reduce your fuel consumptions. A speed of around 50mph (80 kph) produces the lowest emissions. Although there are many amazing advances in developing cleaner fuels and more efficient engines, if we continue to increase our dependence on cars it reduces the impact of these benefits.
Over a car’s lifespan, 85% of the carbon dioxide emissions come from fuel use and servicing operations. It is the reliance on fossil fuels which is primarily responsible for this. There are many alternatives such as purchasing electric or hybrid vehicles. In the UK 2 million new cars and 8 million used cars are sold annually. When consumers purchase vehicles they consider many factors, however it is accepted that fuel efficiency is likely to have an overriding influence for many. Although diesel and petrol cars still dominate new car sales, gas, biofuel, hybrid and electric cars are also available. You can check the carbon emissions and fuel consumption of new cars in the VCA guide.
Governments are encouraging more people to switch to more environmentally friendly cars by offering a reduced Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) or car tax for vehicles with lowered emissions. Discounts are now available for alternatively fuelled cars to further encourage producers to make a switch to more environmentally friendly vehicles.
At the start of this month Governments from around the world met at the COP26 summit in Glasgow to discuss the climate crisis. Political leaders must all agree to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and half global emissions by 2030. However we can’t rely on governments alone. We must all do our part to reduce our own carbon emissions. So next time you need to use your car, consider how much you need to go out. Can you make do with what you have instead of driving for a single pint of milk? Can you cycle or walk to work? Can you do lift shares or combine trips? Please take a moment to think about your carbon footprint and air pollution.
Please click the link below to visit our Environmental Calendar. Each month we focus on a new environmental topic and look in to how we can all help to improve the world we live in.
