Many people in developed countries are finding that they’re having more and more difficulty getting where they need to go without using transport, whether it’s public transport or their own car. With this increase in transportation has come an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas. Many people are concerned about this but don’t know what to do or how to contribute. If you’re already green, then you’re on your way! Here are 5 ways that will help green transport and commute.
1) Walk instead of drive or take public transport
This is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint when commuting. Not only does walking not emit any greenhouse gasses, but public transport is much fewer emissions than driving. If you can’t walk or take public transport for some reason, try carpooling with a friend who lives close to you so that they can drive and you can share the ride.
2) Use a bike
Bikes emit almost no greenhouse gasses, and they’re a great form of exercise as well. If you don’t have a bike at home, or your commute isn’t too long, try to use one from your office or from a friend who lives close by. This will not only help green transport but also go green with exercise!
3) Go green with your car
The US, Brazil, and South Africa are the three most greenhouse gas emitting countries in the world. Did you know that cars accounted for over 20% of the greenhouse emissions in the United States? Are you doing your part? If not, try carpooling or lowering your speed slightly to reduce emissions. You can also try using public transport or biking instead of driving whenever possible.
4) Use sustainable transportation in your business
If you work for a company, why not ask them to invest in green technologies? This could include buying more sustainable forms of transport, changing their building heating system, or even recycling programmes. Not only will this decrease greenhouse gas emissions but it will also be good for your company’s public image.
5) Recycle properly
This one may seem the most obvious, but you never know. Some people don’t even separate their recycling into more than just regular and paper trash bins. If you want to go green with transport, make sure that your office or workplace recycles as well.
Having a green commute helps you feel good about yourself, and it also keeps the environment clean. Remember that even little things help, such as keeping your tires properly inflated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars by up to 3%! If everyone starts doing their part now, we can definitely slow down climate change before it gets even more severe.