Common Sense on Climate Change Solution #1: Make Better Cars and SUV's
The technology exists to build cars, minivans, and SUVs that are just as powerful and safe as vehicles on the road today, but get 40 miles per gallon (mpg) or more.
Better transmissions and engines, more aerodynamic designs, and stronger yet lighter material for chassis and bodies can cost-effectively increase the average fuel economy of today's
automotive fleet from 24 mpg to 40 mpg over 10 years. This would be equivalent to taking 44 million cars off the road—and it would save individual drivers thousands of dollars in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle.
Because transportation accounts for nearly 30 percent of U.S. annual CO2 emissions, raising fuel economy is one of the most important things we can do to slow climate change.
The first step is to require Detroit to offer consumers more fuel-efficient vehicles by raising the average gas mileage—the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)—of their fleets. It is especially important to bring SUVs up to the same standards as cars.
The government can also help by offering tax credits to consumers who buy advanced technology vehicles such as today's hybrids (a combination of gasoline and self-charging electric battery engine) and new fuel cell vehicles that will hit the market within the next decade. This will give millions of people the incentive to do the right thing and help automakers create a market for clean technologies. Honda and Toyota already have highly fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles on the market that get more than 47 mpg.
Consumer Solution:
When you buy your next car, look for the one with the best fuel economy in its class. The vehicle you drive has the single largest impact on climate change of any action you take. For each gallon of gas you burn, 20 pounds of heat-trapping CO2 is released into the atmosphere. And better gas mileage not only reduces global warming, but also will save you thousands of dollars at the pump over the life of the vehicle. Check the fuel economy sticker on the cars you're considering and look for new technologies such as hybrid engines.
Consumer Solution:
If you own more than one vehicle, use the less fuel-efficient one only when you can fill it with passengers. Use your gas miser for travel with one or two passengers. Keep your tires inflated, accelerate slowly and smoothly, and whenever possible, join a carpool or take mass transit.
 DrillingWhile we’ll undoubtedly have to rely on fossil fuels for some time to come, it is irresponsible to increase oil drilling and consumption to meet our energy needs. Burning more fossil fuels will simply bring more climate change and make us more dependent on foreign oil. Our government should invest in the development of clean, 21st century technologies and support the companies that are trying to bring us into a new cleaner energy age, not drag its feet by rewarding those who prolong a 20th century fossil fuel economy. |
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Common Sense Solution #2 Drilling
While we’ll undoubtedly have to rely on fossil fuels for some time to come, it is irresponsible to increase oil drilling and consumption to meet our energy needs. Burning more fossil fuels will simply bring more climate change and make us more dependent on foreign oil. Our government should invest in the development of clean, 21st century technologies and support the companies that are trying to bring us into a new cleaner energy age, not drag its feet by rewarding those who prolong a 20th century fossil fuel economy.
