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Making an Impact on the Move

The United States is one of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for 25% of global emissions. Within the U.S., emissions from transportation sources represent about a third of the nation’s total emissions, and have accounted for nearly half of the net increase in U.S. emissions since 1990.

Americans rely on transportation sources of all types to go about their daily lives, but with the amount of greenhouse gases our vehicles emit even small changes could help reduce our collective carbon footprint. While using your car or taking a flight may seem like the most convenient way to travel, you may discover that you can save time, money, and stress by choosing a lower greenhouse gas-emitting option.

Driving
Transportation emissions are a result of two factors: the fuel efficiency of the vehicles in use, and the availability of alternatives to driving alone.
Flying
Sometimes people have no choice but to fly, but the resulting emissions can often represent the biggest chunk of your carbon footprint.
Public Transportation
One of the best ways to reduce your impact on the climate is to take a public bus, subway or train instead of driving.
Bicycling & Walking
Our options for getting around depend very much on where we live.
Recreational Activities
Sailing, kayaking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking and cycling are examples of recreational activities that produce very low greenhouse gas emissions.