The Rapid Rise For Fuel By The Transportation Sector: The dual challenge that the transportation sector is primarily facing revolves around the most efficient and effective way to keep the world moving while also reducing emissions.
In the next 20 years, the transportation sector is expected to be the leading force which will drive, and increase the demand for global energy.
In developed countries, the transportation sector accounts for the largest end-use of energy, and in most developing countries, it is the quickest growing end-use of energy.
The rise in energy consumption is considered to be one of the key causes of today’s global
environmental issues that pertain specifically to the transportation sector.
In developed countries like the USA, these concerns become even more prominent due to the rapidly growing transportation sector.
The USA transportation sector consumes about 30% of the country’s total energy resources and accounts for 92% of the energy demand for petroleum.
Furthermore, almost 70% of the overall oil consumption in the USA accounts for the volume of fuel that is required to satisfy the demand for transportation, and about 65% of the fuel is used by private vehicles operated by individuals.
RELATED: Transportation Sector Consumption Of Fossil Fuel
Such a high consumption of fuel makes the transportation industry the leading carbon emitter in the world.
In the past 40 years, the global transportation sector’s GHG emissions rose by 250%, from 2.8 Gt CO2e in 1970 to 7.0 Gt CO2e, by the year 2010.
If the same trends continue, such emissions could hit a spike of an astounding 12 Gt CO2e/year by 2050, without any mitigation activities in the pipelines.
Similarly, transportation can also be considered as a significant source of air pollutants that contribute to about 12e70% of the world’s pollution of a particulate matter.
The transportation sector has proliferated and has subsequently maintained its connection and relevance to developed and developing countries’ economic growth.
However, significant environmental hazards are associated with this increased energy
consumption and the subsequent CO2 emissions in the environment.
Over the last few decades, newer renewable energy sources, such as bioenergy, hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind energy, and ocean energy, are being explored as probable alternatives to carbon-powered fuel.
Moreover, it can be said that a more practical approach in tackling environmental problems is now being taken into consideration by some.
By the year 2030, transportation centric energy consumption and CO2 emissions will increase by more than 50%, and transportation-related CO2 emissions are projected to increase from one-third to one-half of the global emissions in developing and transition countries.
Unfortunately, the nature and contribution of the transportation sector to national and global economic growth is such that it is considered to be the most challenging sector when it comes to make efforts to reduce global emissions.
Although a reduction in emissions was observed in the year 2017, an increase of 3.1% in CO2 emissions was recorded in 2018.
Consequently, the dynamics above for the transportation sector carbon emissions still remain the main reason for the ubiquitous demand for renewable energy sources.
