Daily Travel and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Passenger Transport: Comparison of Germany and the United States
Federal, state, and local governments in the United States and Germany have the goal of reducing petroleum use and associated greenhouse gas emissions from passenger ground transport. This paper compares trends of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger transport in Germany and the United States since 1990. Germany reduced CO2 emissions from passenger transport at a rate faster than that of the United States—even with controls applied for population growth, economic activity, and travel demand. Furthermore, for all indicators, CO2 emissions from transport were much higher in the United States than in Germany: 11.7 times greater for total CO2 emissions, 3.1 times greater per capita, 2.1 times greater per passenger kilometer, and 2.4 times greater per unit of gross domestic product. Also compared are U.S. and German policies that can help decrease CO2 emissions from passenger transport through improvements in technology, including fuel economy and CO2 tailpipe emission standards, vehicle registration fees and taxes, incentive programs for the purchase of fuel-efficient cars, and biofuel standards. Finally, policies in Germany and the United States that shape the relative attractiveness of driving, public transport, walking, and cycling are highlighted. The analysis concludes with policy lessons for the two countries.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309295505
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Authors:
- Buehler, Ralph
- Publication Date: 2014
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 36–44
- Monograph Title: Energy, Climate Change, and Alternative Fuels 2014
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
- Issue Number: 2454
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Carbon dioxide; Greenhouse gases; Passenger transportation; Policy analysis; Pollutants; Travel demand
- Geographic Terms: Germany; United States
- Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I15: Environment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01515040
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 9780309295505
- Report/Paper Numbers: 14-1043
- Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 21 2014 3:16PM