To think that cars are the biggest cause of climate change?

[malificent7]

I didn't learn to drive till I was 30 as I was concerned about the effects of cars on global warming. Everyone thought I was mad...however now that climate change is a hot topic i wonder how many people still feel that driving isn't damaging to the planet?
Then there are the car accidents, roads are an eyesore.
I mean I drive as I live in the country but I kind of hate it too.

[quote VeniVidiWeeWee]@hawkins001

No, it's not. They consume huge amounts of power. See here:

www.computerworld.com/article/3431148/why-data-centres-are-the-new-frontier-in-the-fight-against-climate-change.html[/quote]
Fair point, I apologise and stand corrected.

I always though the biggest cause was burning fossil fuels for heat & electric.

Yep. I think people on this thread are just guessing based on what they personally dislike.

Causes of climate change

Google has easy to find lists.

The biggest cause of global warming is not burning fossil fuels for heat and electric and that's it.

It's burning fossil fuels in the vast range of things that need energy.

Other examples

Fuel for supertankers, planes, all the equipment of all the armies, manufacturing everything / components for endless things- skyscrapers, trains, massive plant, vast ships and planed and warehouses and lorries and and and.

Yes to heat and cool homes contributes and cars but it's s small thing in the mix.

Our personal vehicles are a major cause of global warming. Collectively, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas. About five pounds comes from the extraction, production, and delivery of the fuel, while the great bulk of heat-trapping emissions—more than 19 pounds per gallon—comes right out of a car’s tailpipe.

In total, the US transportation sector—which includes cars, trucks, planes, trains, ships, and freight—produces nearly thirty percent of all US global warming emissions, more than almost any other sector.

Unfortunately, oil-related emissions may rise in the coming years as the oil industry extracts and refines “unconventional” oils, such as tar sands and tight oil. Using less oil—and avoiding unnecessary emission from the oil we do use—is the real solution
www.ucsusa.org/resources/car-emissions-global-warming

It won’t be much different in the U.K.

But global warming is a global issue and cars are a major problem causing 20% of the pollution

Apart from killing 40000 a year in U.K. from the pollution with asthma, lung cancer and COPD

Cars are a problem but definitely not the biggest cause.

I'd recommend doing a bit of research on Google. You will see that the difference that the general population can make to climate change, even if we all changed our behaviours to be vegan, never use cars/planes, reduce our energy useage.... is quite small and barely makes a dent in the problem.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't make efforts to change our behaviours - we all should do our bit and I find it amazing and frankly heartwarming that you cared enough to boycot driving for so long.

But really, it is the big corporations in China and America and world leaders that need to get a grip and do something about this. They are the ones who can make the real difference.

Not the biggest cause, but reducing their use is part of the solution. You can walk one mile to work or with your children to school, unless you have a disability. You don't need a Range Rover to climb the south face of the Kings Road.

Every individual needs to do what they can, including making this the top political issue.

I got rid of the car for environmental reasons. Cars are a problem for climate change, resource use and air pollution.

But factually they are not the single biggest cause of climate change.

Veni and Hawkins, it's interesting - and one of the reasons bitcoin etc is. such a bad idea.

General overconsumption - food, fashion, 'stuff', changing cars every 3 years because even if you buy an electric car, if you buy a new one every 3 years you are negating any positive aspects of buying electric.

Built in obsolescence whether it be a kettle or a house.

Cars, energy, air travel, shipping, population, trade, diet etc...

...all boils down to a single issue - over consumption.

It is overpopulation. It is us humans that demand fuels to burn, clothes to wear, cars to drive, and everything else mentioned above all comes down to human demand and consumption.

They’re certainly affecting the air that we breathe.

ourworldindata.org/emissions-by-sector
The causes of climate change are incredibly well documented.

The industries with the highest CO2 emissions are oil & gas production and then clothing & footwear.
The most polluting countries are the US and China.
Shockingly, the CO2 emissions from food waste and food loss are the same as the third most polluting country.

So basically we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, quit our addiction to fast fashion, and stop throwing out food. And US and China have to get their shit together.

@Itsmeagainandagain

I thought it was cows farting that were on the top list of climate change

If farmers were obliged to fit those party whistle things (the sort that unfurls with a feather on the end) into the rear of each cow we would have a visual and audible indication of how often / long cows fart.

I have a 2 year old, 1.2 engine car which I rely on with living rurally no where near school, shops etc. I also work in community nursing covering a large rural area which is highly unlikely to change so again I need my car.

I’m not ready to switch to electric yet, I live in a. House set far off the road with no drive so charging will be an issue and I also believe that electric cars are not the future and they’ll be the next diesel. The infrastructure will not be available in time for mass switch over etc.

No, of course they aren't the biggest cause of climate change. This information is very easy to find and I'm a bit surprised that you have never bothered to read up on it, given that you felt so strongly about climate change that it motivated you to not drive for 30 years.

Cars are doing damage, obviously, but they are quite far down on the list of shitty things that we do to the planet.

I’m 40 and don’t drive. Neither does my husband. We are also not planning to get a car, ever. Initially it was that we lived in big cities and did’t need them. Right now climate change is the big reason for not doing it. We both feel it’s fucking irresponsible and the biggest thing we as a family can do to help, along with reducing meat, avoiding flying when possible, ans voting. We were told by so many people that it’s “impossible” to get by without the car once we had kids. We have 2 now and we get on just fine.

@Magicpaintbrush

China is responsible for one third of the entire world's CO2 emissions, producing more than the US and the entire EU combined - according to the BBC.

So, while they continue to do this we are all fucked.

Yes blame China whilst we spout meaningless promises on "future" cuts! which we wont meet.

But the fact remains is that the vast majority of pollutants in the atmosphere, were put there by the 'west, so all the effects we see now are down to to us.

The melting of the permafrost is absolutley tragic and will lead to more CO2 being released than is in the atmosphere now.

They are a contributory factor yes. However deforestation, factories in Russia or China etc .meat consumption and so on all play a part as well. I passed my test at 32 due to finding driving difficult and relying on dh to drive. Cars are a way of life here . Buses are unreliable in many counties and trains are generally expensive as well

I’d say they’re are things far more damaging to the environment than cars. They contribute, of course.
Mass consumerism is one. All that cargo being shipped around. People on the other other side of the world so desperate for a luxury British car that it gets flown to them. Everyone eating meat for all of their meals etc etc

Industry/ consumerism = energy consumption

Transport is the uk biggest source of emissions within the uk

Stuff like electronics manufactured elsewhere is probably also a big part of your personal impact

Getting rid of gas heating is another big hitter

Then agriculture, ( fertilisers ) which boils down to meat and diary

Co2 emissions per person in China are half that of a person in the US

We won't solve this by playing pass the buck

The biggest cause of global warming is not burning fossil fuels for heat and electric and that's it.

It's burning fossil fuels in the vast range of things that need energy.

Doesn't burning fossil fuels for heat & electric encapsulate burning them for things that need energy?

We have reduced our CO2 emissions from energy quite significantly in the UK by phasing out coal...we have a growing fleet of renewables and the outlook is positive (but we also have to relay on imports of energy from Europe-France and Belgium-).

We have a plan re cars. No new petrol/diesel ones from 2030..how feasible it is I'm not sure..even withot logistics on how/where will the cars be charged, the electricity has to come from somewhere and there is no spare capacity (hence importing from France already, they have loads from nuclear)

CO2 from agricultural process is responsible for about 1/3 of all the emissions..

In general I agree that it's over consumption and over population that is the main issue.
China is definitely a major polluter. They make stuff but we buy it...We should stop. We can start by not going to primark.

UE are going to impose a tax on polluting countries on some of their goods (like steel, alluminium, cement etc) as the costs associated with CO2 emissions in UE are driving the industry to relocate to places where there are no costs..cross border adjustment mechanism..UK might follow. Personally I think it should cover ALL goods but it would require people to change their buying practices.