Cars and Climate Impacts

Owning a car carries high costs on society from both individual well-being and environmental points of view.  Car ownership is related to inequality where minorities are less likely to have a car and richer people have more than one. This means that richer people drive the most and generate a higher carbon footprint, however, during the pandemic, car use has been reduced due to changes in travel behavior. The scientists at the conversation assessed 800 peer-reviewed articles to identify the most effective measures to reduce car use, and in turn improve health outcomes, meet climate targets, and create more livable cities.  Although the authors recognize that there is no silver bullet, they recommend a combination of policies that encourage more sustainable practices and policies that restrict driving and parking.  In this article, the 12 best ways were listed to help reduce city car use: congestion charges, parking and traffic controls, limited traffic zones, mobility services for commuters, workplace parking charges, workplace travel planning, university travel planning, mobility services for universities, car sharing, school travel planning, personalized travel plans, apps for sustainable mobility.  One of the most effective policies to reduce car dependence seems to be the apps for sustainable mobility, where individuals gain rewards for using low carbon emission options for transport such as walking, cycling, and using public transport. 

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