Driving home the point: Personal vehicles on the hot seat

As you climb into your vehicle with all its modern trappings - built-in video screens, Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping and electric seat warmers - you may notice more than just your derriere heating up. The concern about the contribution of cars and light trucks to global warming is reaching a fevered pitch as the sheer number of vehicles on the road today means emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from transportation sources are growing faster than any other sector.

According to Alberta Transportation, Canada's annual emissions of GHG are approximately 700 megatonnes, with transportation sources contributing the highest percentage over any other sector - an alarming 26 percent of total emissions. Alberta's annual GHG emissions are approximately 223 megatonnes, with transportation sector responsible for 14 percent of Alberta's total greenhouse gas emissions. Alberta also leads the country in per capita emission of greenhouse gases from all sectors, with approximately one third of the national total. The greenhouse gas of most concern is carbon dioxide (CO2), an unavoidable by-product of burning fossil fuels. Natural Resources Canada estimates the average car produces about three times its weight in CO2 every year, or even more if it's poorly driven or inadequately maintained.

According to Alberta Transportation, Canada's annual emissions of GHG are approximately 700 megatonnes, with transportation sources contributing the highest percentage over any other sector - an alarming 26 percent of total emissions. Alberta's annual GHG emissions are approximately 223 megatonnes, with transportation sector responsible for 14 percent of Alberta's total greenhouse gas emissions. Alberta also leads the country in per capita emission of greenhouse gases from all sectors, with approximately one third of the national total. The greenhouse gas of most concern is carbon dioxide (CO2), an unavoidable by-product of burning fossil fuels. Natural Resources Canada estimates the average car produces about three times its weight in CO2 every year, or even more if it's poorly driven or inadequately maintained.

Increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles is one way to reduce emissions. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to simply slow down. Instead of driving the speed limit of 110 km/h on most major highways, slowing down to 90 km/h provides the optimum fuel efficiency. Indeed, drivers lose 10 percent of their fuel efficiency for every 10 km/h over 90 km/h they travel.

"We could look at more strict enforcement of the speed limits," says Lawrence Schmidt, senior policy advisor for Alberta Transportation. "Instead, we've taken an approach where we try to provide the right information to the people who make the decisions."

For example, Alberta Transportation recently worked with the Alberta Motor Association to provide a fuel- efficient driver training program. The program will be available to commercial fleets first but may be available to the public in the future.

Alberta Transportation is becoming increasingly involved in environmental issues, moving beyond its historical role of simply providing adequate roads and ensuring the safety of personal and commercial vehicles. Schmidt says the department now works more closely with Alberta Environment, the federal government, municipal governments and groups like Climate Change Central and the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA).

Schmidt says the Alberta Government is also looking at encouraging the use of alternative fuels like ethanol (produced from fermented plant material), biodiesel and natural gas through public awareness, demonstration projects and tax exemptions.

"We don't dictate or provide guidelines for the province's urban municipalities but we do provide funding, which can influence the direction," says Schmidt. For example, the department recently provided funds for CASA to conduct a "transportation demand management" study examining ways to reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. Schmidt says they are now examining the recommendations of this study.

He says approximately 64 percent of on-road fuel is burned in urban areas, compared to 36 percent on rural highways. About 1.3 million vehicles return to an urban parking space each day while only 634,000 originate from rural areas.

Personal vehicle emissions are not just an urban issue. Some rural vehicles are used to regularly commute to urban areas. However, dreams of high-speed commuter rail services may have been dampened by a recent Van Horne Institute study, which said an Edmonton-Calgary service fuelled by hydro (rather than coal, to reduce emissions) would be extremely expensive.

"Roads are effective and efficient transportation systems that have been proven over the years and remain a prudent way to do business and serve the public's needs," says Schmidt. "There have been some advocates promoting the use of concrete rather than asphalt on highways since it provides less rolling resistance, but the differences are minimal."

In the meantime, the solution may be to get more people off the roads rather than to build more roads. With options such as telecommuting (working from home) becoming more popular and perhaps more lucrative, the Alberta Government may look closer at having more of its employees warming their seats at home rather than in a vehicle.