“The earth is what we all have in common.”
– Wendell Berry
Today is Earth Day, and the 2020 commemoration stands at a particularly significant milestone. April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, which began when 20 million Americans took to their cities to protest on behalf of the environment and demand a sustainable way forward for the planet we all call home. Five decades later, this now global day is the largest civic event in the world.
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action — currently distinguished by environmentalists as the most pressing ecological topic. In the U.S. and around the world, the transportation sector is one of the most significant components to the economy. To celebrate Earth Day, we’re taking a look at the sustainable progress made, along with the progress still needed in our industry.
How the transportation sector fares today — and what that tells us for the future
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel releases carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas — into the atmosphere. The buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is causing the earth to warm, leading to what we now know as climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation alone account for approximately 29% of total emissions in the U.S.
The EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have laid out greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards for cars, light trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. They project their standards will reduce emission from carbon dioxide by 270 million metric tons over the life of the vehicles built during their established efforts.
With population numbers, economic development, international trade, and industrialization all growing in recent decades, it stands to fit that demand for freight has also increased. Environment International — a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering science and health — released an in-depth report on their scientific-backed predictions on the environmental impact of over-the-road trucking in the U.S.
The report includes the following key takeaways:
- Due to emission control policies and advancements in vehicle technologies, new diesel truck engines under the latest standards emit 98% less of particular matter and nitrogen emissions than their 1990 counterparts.
- With the elimination of super-emitters, U.S. over-the-road freight emissions could be reduced by approximately 30% by 2050.
- Assuming stringent emissions standards and fuel policies are as continuously implemented as they have been, historical trends point to 30% reductions in fuel intensity from over-the-road trucks through 2050.
Everyday actions transportation companies can take to protect the Earth
Although the transportation sector has come a long way in many respects, there is still a great amount of sustainable effort that must be made to remain aligned with increased demand and customer service standards in the coming decades.
Being environmentally conscious isn’t a top to bottom initiative. From small to large-scale efforts, everyone can make an impact. Here are just a few ways those in the transportation sector can do their part:
- Go paperless: Manual processes that rely on the ample use of paper are not only outdated and costly to companies, but costly to the environment as well. Luckily, robust telematics solutions have digitized the reporting and logging process, leaving paper — for the most part — a thing of the past.
- Use your fuel wisely: Incorporating a solution that strategizes your routes is not only beneficial for your customer service and fuel costs, but reduces your carbon emissions impact as well.
- Recycle, recycle, recycle: Recycling is so important, and it’s something almost everyone can actively do to help the environment. Whether adding recycle bins in your cabs or making a solid effort to recycle excess materials, reusing our resources and reducing waste makes a tremendous impact.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Earth Day 2020 blog post! If you’re still in the mood for some sustainable reading, check out one of our throwback posts on sustainability in the trucking industry.