Civic Issues

Humans have had a profound negative impact on the Earth. That being said, there are many ways in which we can work to reverse or lessen these effects. In this blog I will explore the environmental impact humans have had and possible solutions to these problems.

One of the most widespread negative environmental impacts has come at the hands of automobiles.

The automobile industry has rapidly expanded since its beginnings in the early 1900s. Today’s numbers boast an astounding 1.2 billion cars owned worldwide.

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Automobiles take a toll on the environment throughout the duration of their lifetime, from their production, to their life on the road, to the years after they are done being used. The production of automobiles requires the creation of many materials like steel, rubber, glass, plastics, and paints, leading to a large carbon footprint. However, cars have their most significant impact when on the road, accounting for approximately one-third of air pollution in the United States alone. Not to mention the effects of getting gasoline to the cars in the first place, as oil drilling by itself consumes energy, damaging the local ecosystems. According to National Geographic, after cars are taken off the road, their parts, including plastics and toxic battery acids may stay in the environment.

All of these negative environmental effects have many people calling for change.

The most obvious and logical solution to this problem is alternative energy powered cars. Alternative energy cars offer a cleaner, more efficient mode of transportation, significantly reducing carbon emissions and environmental problems caused by oil drilling.

Moving forward, there are several different types of alternative energy cars that could take over the market, including electric cars, solar powered cars, and hydrogen fuel cell cars.

The most feasible and short term option is electric cars. Electric cars are already on the road, accounting for a small portion of automobile sales. One promising statistic is that by the year 2030, electric cars will account for 58% of the light vehicle market. For these numbers to hold true, both government and the people must actively engage in resolving the issue at hand.

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Government support of alternative energy is vital to our progression towards more widespread use of these different energy sources. In recent decades, the United States government has taken an increasingly hands-on approach in dealing with environmental protection. All levels of government have taken a stance on this issue and have implemented initiatives to support alternative energy cars.

In 1966, Congress first introduced bills that recommended the use of electric cars in order to reduce air pollution, and since then, many pieces of legislation dealing with automobile regulations and environmental protection have been passed.

The government has continued to actively work towards developing this source of alternative energy through the funding of research and development programs. In 1976, Congress passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act, which established a “program of research, development, and demonstration designed to promote electric vehicle technologies and to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of electric vehicles.” Other legislation was later passed, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which set aside $2 billion for the development of electric vehicle batteries and related technologies. Another part of this act provides tax credits ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 to consumers who purchase plug-in hybrids and electric cars. This type of positive incentive is necessary to garner the support and involvement of the population in the movement towards alternative energy.

Eventually, state governments became involved when California passed the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate in 1990, requiring two percent of the state’s vehicles to have no emissions by 1998 and ten percent by 2003. The push for alternative energy even reached the White House, when President Obama introduced a new gas-mileage policy that would require automobiles to meet a minimum fuel-efficiency standard of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.

However, in the end, significant change will only take place if the population embraces electric cars and alternative energy.

Environmental protection is becoming more of a concern amongst people, as 71% say the country should do whatever it takes to protect the environment. With these increased concerns over environmental protection have come calls for changes in energy consumption, specifically in the automobile industry. According to the Pew Research Center, this survey found support for policies addressing the nation’s energy supply, including requiring “improved vehicle fuel efficiency and increasing federal funding for research on wind, solar and hydrogen technology.”

As of 2010, 74% of people called for federal funding for research on alternative energy, and 60% of the public favors tax incentives for buying hybrid or electric vehicles. All of these changes in public opinion have had an effect on the electric car industry, as sales have jumped in recent years.

Moving forward, we have to continue expanding the electric car market and move towards all types of alternative energy.

Sources:

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/green-guide/buying-guides/car/environmental-impact/

http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-ev-oil-crisis/

Wide Partisan Divide Over Global Warming

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-timeline.html

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1093560_1-2-billion-vehicles-on-worlds-roads-now-2-billion-by-2035-report