CFTE Press Release
Issue Archive
September 26, 2007
NEW STUDY CONFIRMS TRANSIT AS VITAL TOOL
IN COMBATING GLOBAL WARMINGTransit Can Cut Household Carbon Emissions
by Nearly One-Third
For more information contact Bridget
Hennessey or
Jason
Jordan, 202-234-7562
An independent scientific study supported by the American
Public Transportation Association has identified transit use as
a major component of the nation’s climate change strategy. The study,
conducted by SAIC, examined the impact of transit use on carbon
dioxide emissions and global warming. Not only were the impacts
of transit significant, the report’s authors noted that transit
use dwarfed other popular household emission reduction strategies.
The findings were striking:
-
A commuter switching to existing public
transportation can reduce their CO2 emissions by 20 pounds
per day of use or more than 4,800 pounds in a year, an amount
equal to ten percent of an average family’s carbon footprint.
-
Switching your commute to public transportation reduces a
family’s
carbon footprint more than replacing five incandescent bulbs
to lower wattage compact fluorescent lamps (445 pounds of CO2
per year), weatherizing your home, or replacing an applicances
with energy efficient models.
-
An average household with two-cars
can reduce carbon emissions by 30% by switching one car’s commute to public transportation
or other modes of travel. A two-car household switching
all travel to transit can reduce their carbon footprint by
up to 55%.
-
Public transportation is already a major net reducer of
GHG emissions saving nearly 7 metric tones per year
Mobile transportation sources represent one-third of total greenhouse
gas emissions in the United States. The study, Public Transportation’s
Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Reduction, makes plain that
expanding transit options in the nation’s communities is
a cornerstone to any effective plan for combating climate change.
“Today’s report underscores the importance of increasing transportation
choice,” said CFTE program director Jason Jordan. “It validates
the support voters from coast-to-coast have shown for ballot measures providing
local funding for public transportation.”
A
recent CFTE study found that since 2000 more than 70 percent of
transportation investment ballot measures have been approved by
voters yielding $200+ billion in funding.
The new study should bolster support among those concerned about
the potentially devastating impacts of global warming for increased
transit investment and use. Transit use has been steadily
increasing in recent years with current ridership at its highest
in a generation.
The SAIC report points out the critical role today’s transit
systems play in combating global warming and it is clear from the
data that any real solution to climate change will involve transit. “Encouraging
use and expanding public transportation should be a part of our
national strategy to address global climate change,” said
James L. Oberstar, U.S. Congress (D-MN), chairman, House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee. “The report provides
further evidence that public transportation is one of the most
important tools to minimize carbon output, help the environment
and assist the nation in achieving a sustainable transportation
system.”
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels commented at the report’s Capitol
Hill release, “For Seattle, transportation is the only place
to go [for reducing greenhouse gas emission].” Mayor Nickels
noted that 681 mayors have joined him in his pledge to reduce municipal
emissions. Expanding transit use and investment was critical for
Seattle, according to Mayor Nickels
The report is available at http://apta.com/research/info/online/climate_change.cfm
The Center for Transportation Excellence is a non-partisan research
group based in Washington, D.C.
|
