Cars and light trucks account for about 11 percent of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions. The transport sector is responsible for 27 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. Light vehicles (the cars, vans and light trucks we drive) are responsible for almost half of that total. Automakers have succeeded in reducing air pollutant (CAC) emissions from cars and light trucks, but fuel use and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions have grown steadily over the past two decades.
This is because CO2, the main GHG linked to climate change, is an inevitable by-product of burning fossil fuels. Despite the fact that light vehicles save more fuel than they did in the 1970s, there are more vehicles on the road today and they are driven further than before, resulting in increased fuel use. On average, cars and trucks emit more than 60 tons of climate pollution (TCO) each over its useful life. Catherine Abreu, executive director of Climate Action Network Canada, said that Canada is only responsible for two percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.
However, this 2% is still a significant contribution considering Canada's size. Our personal vehicles are one of the main causes of global warming. Approximately five pounds of heat-trapping emissions come from the extraction, production and delivery of fuel, while most heat-trapping emissions (more than 19 pounds per gallon) come directly from a car's exhaust pipe.Press Secretary Joanna Sivasankaran said that Canada is one of the largest emitters per capita in the world. During this period, Canada's share of total global GHG emissions remained at less than 2%, although it is one of the largest emitters per capita.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, human-driven releases of GHG emissions disrupt natural processes occurring in the atmosphere and are very likely to be the dominant cause of observed warming that has occurred since the mid-twentieth century.Caroline Theriault, spokeswoman for Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, said that the current government has a plan to reduce emissions that includes putting a price on carbon, making buildings more energy efficient and phasing out coal as a source of electricity. Companies are increasingly integrating the need to reduce GHG emissions and carbon pricing considerations into their investment, planning and operations decisions to improve their long-term resilience and competitiveness.Many European countries began investing in technology to reduce carbon emissions long before Canada, but experts say there is still time to catch up. For example, nearly 40 Canadian companies contribute to the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, a voluntary initiative that supports and encourages the successful implementation of carbon pricing worldwide.Earlier this fall, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that the average global temperature was already 1 C higher and that it will reach 1.5 C by 2040 unless the world intensifies its planned action to reduce emissions to a large extent.It is clear that cars and light trucks contribute significantly to global warming in Canada. The transport sector accounts for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada and light vehicles are responsible for almost half of that total.
On average, cars and trucks emit more than 60 tons of climate pollution each over its useful life. While Canada is only responsible for two percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the largest emitters per capita in the world. The current government has a plan to reduce emissions that includes putting a price on carbon, making buildings more energy efficient and phasing out coal as a source of electricity. Companies are increasingly integrating the need to reduce GHG emissions and carbon pricing considerations into their investment, planning and operations decisions to improve their long-term resilience and competitiveness.
It is important for Canadians to understand how much cars contribute to global warming in order to take action against it. We can start by reducing our personal vehicle use as much as possible by taking public transportation or carpooling when possible. We can also invest in energy efficient vehicles or electric cars when possible. Finally, we can support initiatives such as carbon pricing leadership coalition which encourages successful implementation of carbon pricing worldwide.
