Climate Solutions: Sustainable Transportation

Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time, and the transportation sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions globally. In detail, 70% of direct transport emissions come from road vehicles, 1% from rail, 11% from shipping, and 12% from aviation, all predicted to increase continually. As implementing climate solutions becomes increasingly crucial, sustainable transportation emerges as a critical strategy in combating climate change. 

The reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles has led to an increase in air pollution, carbon emissions, and environmental degradation. The burning of gasoline and diesel fuels releases carbon and other pollutants, exacerbating global warming and contributing to health problems such as respiratory diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills 7 million people worldwide every year, with the primary sources being fuel oils, emissions from vehicles, natural gas to heat homes, and by-products of power generation. Additionally, traffic congestion and urban sprawl lead to increased fuel consumption and higher emissions. 

Coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, public transport ridership plummeted, falling by as much as 90% in some cities. Since then, it has rebounded to around pre-pandemic levels, most common in low and middle-income countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, where the majority of the population relies on public transport. However, this drop has created long-term impacts on transportation systems, such as a decrease in revenue for transit operators and a reduction in employment, services, routes, and quality. Estimates state that global public transport must double by 2030 if the world is to limit global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) and avert the worst impacts of climate change, highlighting the urgent need to increase public and sustainable transport infrastructure immediately. 

Sustainable transportation refers to systems and practices that minimize environmental impact while promoting economic and social well-being. This includes: 

• Public Transit: Buses, trains, and subways reduce the number of individual vehicles on the road, lowering emissions per capita. 

• Electric and Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles: These vehicles produce little to no emissions compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars. 

• Cycling and Walking: Active transportation not only reduces emissions but also promotes healthier lifestyles. 

• Carpooling and Ridesharing: Reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles helps cut down on congestion and emissions. 

• Sustainable Urban Planning: Designing cities with bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and efficient public transit systems encourages people to rely less on cars. 

There are many benefits of sustainable transportation. The most vital one is a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to electric vehicles, expanding public transit, and promoting non-motorized transportation significantly decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Governments and organizations worldwide are setting ambitious targets to phase out gasoline and diesel vehicles in favor of electric vehicles. Improved air quality and public health are also favored benefits since sustainable transportation reduces pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, leading to cleaner air. This results in fewer cases of asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues caused by poor air quality. Investing in green transportation solutions promotes economic savings and job creation by opening doors to industries like electric vehicle manufacturing, public transit expansion, and infrastructure development. Additionally, electric vehicle owners benefit from lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to traditional cars. Less traffic congestion is an anticipated result of the rise of public transportation, cycling, and ridesharing, which decreases the number of vehicles on the road and makes commuting more efficient. Lastly, there is also a preservation of natural resources. A shift away from fossil fuels reduces dependency on non-renewable energy sources, helping to protect ecosystems from oil drilling, deforestation, and other environmental impacts.

There is Nothing Beautiful about Climate Change

 

The beauty industry presents yet another challenge in the fight against the climate crisis. While we’re all familiar with the harmful chemicals in products and the ethical concerns of animal testing, this industry’s impact on climate change runs deeper than most realize.

Cosmetic is a very broad term with a wide range of products. Not all “personal care” products are considered cosmetics though. Cosmetics are items like toothpastes, shampoos, perfumes, lipsticks, skin moisturizers, nail polishes, deodorants, hair dye, and eye and facial makeup. Some products, however, are considered in the drug category like treatments for dandruff or acne, mouthwash, skin protectants like lip balm, and antiperspirants. 

Environmental Impacts

Carbon Footprint:

It’s almost impossible these days to not produce a carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with a product, activity, or person. Every beauty product on the shelves, lipstick, shampoo, perfume, toothpaste, eyeshadow, all have a carbon footprint. 

These emissions are produced by exporting ingredients, manufacturing, and transportation to stores or homes. Some products produce more carbon dioxide because the manufacturing process is more difficult. An example would be extracting aloe, green tea, cucumber, etc. to be placed in products to enhance the naturality or the scents. 

Pollution:

Pollution is everywhere and while some brands are working to “go greener,” it’s hard to avoid the production of carbon emissions. There are three main kinds of pollution that are concerning when considering cosmetics. 

Packaging:

The process of packaging creates pollution as well as the packaging itself that is thrown out. The creation of cosmetic packaging produces emissions from plants and factories. It requires a lot of energy to create enough product for the demand. The packaging itself creates pollution when it’s carelessly thrown away. Whether that’s the clear plastic that seals the product in the store or the containers in which the product is emptied. These small plastics, lipstick tubes, perfume bottles, mascara tubes, etc. are not biodegradable and remain in the environment for years before being picked up, buried, or eaten. “The cosmetics business is the fourth biggest plastic packaging user globally and plastic is about 67% of the industry’s packaging volume, according to Vantage Market Research. Beauty giant L’Oreal used 144,430 metric tons of plastic in its packaging material in 2021, for example, according to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation (EMF). And only 9% of the global plastic waste is recycled, according to a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The United States only recycles 4% of its plastic waste.” (CNN) This is crazy…

Transportation:

After manufacturing the products in the factories, they are then typically shipped to a multitude of stores to be sold. Walgreens, Sephora, Ulta, Target, Meijer, Walmart, etc. all have shampoos, perfumes, nail polishes, deodorants, mascaras, and toothpastes. Trucks, trains, and planes all create an immense amount of carbon emissions when they deliver Crest Toothpaste and Old Spice Spray Deodorant to every Target in Michigan and even more if the groceries are delivered to the home. “2023 research by Statista found that mobility from land, air, and sea is still heavily reliant on polluting internal combustion engines (ICEs), producing roughly 8.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e). This accounted for approximately 16 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023, making transportation the second-largest source of emissions worldwide.” (BeautyMatter)

Air pollution:

You wouldn’t think much about air pollution when you think of cosmetics but it’s not just the transportation that contaminates the air. Ever walk into a hair salon on the day of prom? The wafting smell of heat protectant and hair spray is intoxicating. Or walking into Victoria’s secret at the mall, perfume. The locker room, deodorant. These products also contaminate the air even if it’s not carbon dioxide. These intense scents pollute the air we breathe. 

Water Usage: 

Clean, fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce. With more cities experiencing droughts each year and rainfall diminishing due to climate change, the need to conserve water has never been greater. Yet we are using this resource in products like makeup. Water is one of the most common ingredients found in cosmetic products like foundations, moisturizers, primers, lip glosses, and highlighters. Some brands are working to develop waterless products to help reduce their environmental impact.

Many brands are actively working towards creating a positive environmental impact. By reducing their carbon footprint, they are developing solutions to minimize product waste, incorporating more natural ingredients, and using less water in their processes.

It's a step in the right direction, and change is possible.

FDA

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) cannot recall cosmetics for product contamination which allows industries to get away with more than the average product. While they do require the industries to properly label their products, they can still do what they want even if they have to do damage control every now and then. 

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is when a brand markets their products to be natural and sustainable when really, they’re not. These companies promote themselves and their products to be a better option over other cosmetics when sometimes, they use harmful ingredients like formaldehyde or even test on animals before release. It is so important to do your research when deciding to invest in a product for your health and for the environment.

Brands that are working to become greener brands

• REN

• Aveda

• Lush

• Herbivore

• Giorgio Armani

While this post is not to stop you from using cosmetic products, it is to remind you that everything you use is a risk so do your research! 

Storms of Destruction: Tornadoes in Michigan.

    Starting in elementary school all US students are practicing tornado drills and how to stay safe during a tornado. I never imagined that it would become real. In recent years there has been a great number of tornado activity in our midwestern state and it seems like an anomaly. However, it indicates (with the frequency that this occurs) that tornado valley is in fact shifting. 

    Earlier today (Sunday March 30th) I was sitting with my boyfriend watching tv when my phone made the dreaded weather alert signal and then the tornado sirens started going off. We scrambled to get shoes on and grab our cat (who definitely  did not want to go into her carrier and gave me some deep scratches). We went outside and then into our basement where we stayed for half an hour or more. Luckily, we were safe and nothing major happened, but it makes me think about the tornadoes that Michigan has seen the past few years. Like the detrimental one in Portage last year. This made me want to look more at the damage caused by tornadoes and why we are seeing more in Michigan than previous years. 

(The image is from the Lansing Weather Forecast of the depth of severe weather that impacts Michigan)   

    According to the State of Michigan website my previous statement is in fact false. It states that we see about 15 tornadoes a year here in Michigan. However, like everywhere else the warning time for tornadoes is only 10 to 15 minutes. This is such a crazy amount of time. This barely gives people the opportunity to gather their families and get to a safe place. Furthermore, there is another issue with tornadoes in Michigan. Many houses are not built to sustain the extremely high winds that come with a twister. This is especially true for mobile homes. Mobile homes are popular because they tend to be cheaper and a good place for lower income families to live. But, they are not great against tornadoes. “A relatively weak tornado could blow past a well built home, but tear a mobile home apart.” This information comes from the National Weather Service as they attempt to debunk myths about tornadoes. One such myth talks about tornado size and shape determining its strength. The National Weather Service says that tornadoes' strength can only be measured by the destruction that it causes and a measurement of winds. This is such a horrible way to define the strength of a natural disaster.

I wonder what we will see in terms of tornadoes in the years that come. Will climate change impact the amount of tornadoes that we see here in Michigan or will the tornadoes become stronger and more destructive?  

The above Image is from the Michigan Page for Severe Weather Awareness. It is a true depiction of how disastrous these monstrous storms can be.

Converting Petrol Vehicles to electric, the new wave

     Within the past couple years, I have noticed a trend that the younger people are doing to the cars and bikes they drive (and even quads and side by sides). Electrification of vehicles is not new but the buying of electric batteries and electric motors and control harnesses to build your own self-made electrified vehicle instead of going to a place like Tesla (which isn't the best idea in the world right now, different story all-together) and paying almost 100,000 bucks you can buy parts over time and would be cheaper to build at home. Right after the Elon Musk fiasco with the salute I've noticed that not only is the Tesla wave dying down but the rise of "home-made electro mechanics" have become so popular all on YouTube and the forums that this movement has become hard to ignore. 

    Companies like www.vicorpower.com, shincorporated, electroandcompany and other companies are here to help people with the dream of converting these gas powered vehicles into electric BEASTS. The reasons behind this are people are converting gas-powered cars into electric vehicles (EVs) because they offer environmental benefits, lower energy costs, minimal maintenance, and better performance. The switch to EVs reduces carbon emissions and smog-forming air pollution. And the process of converting a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle can be a rewarding hobby for car enthusiasts, not to mention the performance and power of electric vehicles themselves. Plus, the range of the machines seems to be going up from the factory AND aftermarket modifications realm where we gear heads tend to take up residence.

    Proof of these acts being cared out by younger and older people who know better who are converting gas powered to electric is all over social media to show people in the USA, Europe, Canada, Asian markets etc. Electric bike shops are also showing up in places, even in Grand Rapids, Michigan (check out Pedego Electric Bikes Grand Rapids for more details) Kalamazoo will soon have those same type of shops soon I'm sure because buying e rides or building e rides in your own garage seems to be (or is) the future for people who want off of the planet choking emissions we still try to justify and make excuses for. If you have time to check out these videos of people actually converting bikes and quads and stuff.

https://youtu.be/X2Cj2b-QzDA?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/ibY8BDZXD3Q?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/3Pf5jDVIQUA?feature=shared

The Great Plant-Based Transition

Over the course of the semester, agriculture and livestock has been a constant hot-button issue. Yet, when considering the many thousands of climate change solutions, involving a mass transition of sustainable diets is one of the most daunting.

Could it be that we are simply too evolved to lower our food standards? Is a plant-based diet inherently worse? What is the true improvement to our disastrous climate situation if more of us took the plunge, and what type of sacrifice would it really be?

    Gaia Vance’s Nomad Century had a poignant section on the realities of how we source food, and how we waste food. 733 million people are going hungry every day globally, and 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. As a society we have entered a horrific and inequitable truth, where there is a surplus of food produced, without any nutrients being delivered. Fruit, vegetables, and protein cost the most, and without animal-based nutrients it can be substantially more difficult to receive the same calories and vitamins. However, with recent innovation, and education on plant-based alternatives, middle class Americans can find a light at the end of the tunnel. 

What are the Benefits?

A study analyzing the diets of individuals in the UK found that vegan diets resulted in 75% less climate-heating emissions, water pollution and land use than diets in which more than 100g of meat a day was eaten. 

While many may argue that vegetables and fruit are water intensive and cost more for the planet than the livestock industries worldwide, even the lowest-impact meat – organic pork – is responsible for eight times more climate damage than the highest-impact plant, oilseed.

Propaganda and misinformation, dedicated to gaining profit to the livestock and dairy industries, has kept us addicted to the foods we eat, even when there are safer and cheaper alternatives that don’t cost the lives of millions of animals a day. Regardless of how you feel about the conditions of this industry, a vegan diet has been proven to provide the same health benefits as a meat-heavy diet. Harvard Health found a 23% less risk of developing type 2 diabetes with a vegan diet. Our Earth is meant to grow legumes, vegetables, and fruit. Doing so without the use of fertilizers that run off into our freshwater sources is essential to creating a more equitable food situation worldwide. 

“A mostly plant-based diet could prevent approximately 11 million deaths per year globally, and could sustainably produce enough food for the planet’s growing population without further damage to the environment” (Harvard Health)

Goals

Cattle account for 30% of all methane emissions. The current landscape of solution is relying on technology to reduce emissions, and begin the process of carbon sequestration. These efforts are subpar and rely on future scenarios that might never be realized. Additionally, the use of methane-reducing vaccines will not cover the requirements for emission reduction by 2030.

One of the latest IPCC reports stated that there should be a global reduction target for livestock production of 61% by 2036 to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius. Wealthier countries must take on the brunt of the burden and reduce their livestock production at a quicker rate than developing countries who have the majority of famine and child hunger. This means learning to develop with the urgent need to replace animal by-product with plant-based alternatives.

Brands like Morning Star Farms, Light Life, Beyond Meat, or Impossible Foods, provide protein and vitamin B12 rich alternatives to everyday meat options. (I can attest that I enjoy these alternatives almost as much as the real thing). Enjoying soy-based products, veggie burgers, bean, or cauliflower based proteins are also very healthy alternatives as well. Growing some portions of your own fruits and vegetables can also be a great solution. It is not enough for one person to adopt this lifestyle, but popularizing the efforts to convert a few people at a time can lead to the eventual replacement of this jeopardizing industry. To save lives of innocent animals, clean up our freshwater supply, feed starving people, reduce illness and disease, stop deforestation, and restore the biodiversity of the land once occupied by cattle, we should emphasize this solution.

Environmental Advancements in Transportational Engineering

The United States highway system is the largest construction project ever created, spanning nearly 48,000 miles of interstate highways. The number of paved roads and parking lots is also substantial, covering approximately 61,000 square miles in the U.S. alone. These remarkable achievements

underscore the importance of transportation engineering in driving human innovation. In a substantially hotter world, not only do the vehicles we use need to produce lower emissions, but the large, intricate roadways they use also need to change.

Kinetic roads are a new development currently being explored that could potentially harness an abundance of energy from cars using them. Kinetic roads possess a name that performs exactly as it sounds; they harness kinetic energy from vehicles passing over them to generate electricity that can be transferred to a power grid to supply surrounding infrastructure with electricity.

Although there are various ways these kinetic roads can be implemented, the key to this technology lies in the phenomenon of piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is present in certain solid materials that can produce an electrical charge from mechanical stress. In short, these materials can generate energy from the pressure applied to them.

One way this technology can be implemented is by placing speed bumps along a roadway. The vehicle pushes this speed bump down when it travels across it, which turns gears that spin a flywheel. A flywheel is a device used to store rotational energy. The flywheel then turns a generator, which can be stored in a battery or connected to various power supplies. Another popular approach being explored is the use of tiles laid along the road that utilize piezoelectric crystals to harness the pressure of vehicles traveling along the road.

Like any new advancement, the construction of kinetic roads is significantly more expensive than traditional ones, and a new energy storage system will likely need to be developed to harness this energy.

The potential benefits of kinetic roads are large. Although they are expensive, they are low-cost to maintain. Constructing these roads does not involve any intricate process either. They are precast with kinetic technology and can be formed by interlocking pieces of the roadway, which also reduces the time required to repair the roads when needed. The energy can also be harvested throughout the year; if vehicles are driving on it, it can capture and store the kinetic energy produced. Harnessing solar energy through pavement has also gained increased interest among transportation engineers, and these technologies can be implemented simultaneously, which is another reason kinetic roads are gaining interest.   

Small Steps to Save Our Planet

We all know what needs to happen in order to combat climate change. Huge changes need to be made to society as a whole, but we all know that’s harder than it sounds. Sometimes I find myself wondering what I can do to help combat climate change. I’ll be honest I kinda push it aside and hope for the best. But in reality, there are so many smaller steps that I can incorporate into my daily routine that is better for our earth. It may not save the world, but at least I’m doing the best that I can with what I have.

1. First things first, use your voice! Educating and spreading facts and awareness regarding climate change will forever be the most important aspect. When Greta Thunberg said “the vast majority doesn’t have a clue about the actual consequences of our everyday life”, I really believe that education is the most important part of combating climate change. Go out and educate others with the education that you received.

2. Saving energy at home: There are a few things that we can do around our homes that will be healthier for the environment. Most of our electricity and heat is powered by coal, oil, and gas. We can reduce our energy use in a few different ways:

• Switching to LED lightbulbs
• Unplugging, unused appliances/chargers
• Switching to energy efficient appliances
• Hanging things to dry rather than using a dryer
• Washing clothes in cold water

3. When it comes to transportation, most vehicles burn gasoline or diesel. Now that summer is almost here, there are a few ways that we can make small differences. Including walking, riding a bike, public transportation, carpooling, etc., will in the end help reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2 per year, compared to using a car.

4. Changing your diet and avoiding wasteful eating as much as possible. Try to incorporate more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and trying to eat less meat and dairy can significantly lower your environmental impact. It is shown that switching to a vegetarian diet can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 500 kg of CO2 per year. I’m not saying go vegetarian, but I am saying by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet as well as cutting down on meat and dairy can still significantly help the environment. Globally people waste 1 billion tons of food each year which accounts for around 8 to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Doing your best to only buy what you need, and not waste extra food can seriously help with greenhouse gas emissions.

There are so many different ways that we all can contribute to combating climate change. These are just a few ways that I found I can easily incorporate into my daily life. I believe that if everyone became cautious and educated on all of these things, we can all make a noticeable difference.

The Importance of Large-Scale Climate Movements

As the climate crisis becomes more and more dire, it is important to note that there are activists and organizations that are making an effort to help raise awareness and fight climate change. It is difficult to read and hear about all of the ways that climate change is getting worse, or how the government is making decisions that further negative environmental impacts. While being aware of the climate crisis and strategies to fight it or raise awareness about it is incredibly important, the constant intake of information about how things are going wrong is often overwhelming and discouraging. Remembering that there are still good people doing amazing work, in my opinion, makes it easier to face the climate crisis. This post highlights two notable climate activism movements/organizations that are working to create meaningful change around the country and around the world. 

Sunrise Movement

Sunrise Movement is an organization that was established in 2017 and encourages young people to get involved with fighting the climate crisis. 

One of their main goals and strategies of raising awareness about climate change is by trying to make the Green New Deal popular. One of the things that Sunrise Movement does is promote and encourage local organizing for green deals and legislation at local levels. One of their goals is to set an example of what climate action should look like.

Some of the recent work done by Sunrise Movement in 2024 was to persuade voters to vote against Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Part of Sunrise Movement’s reasoning for this was focused on the level of trust that voters had in Kamala Harris over Donald Trump on the topic of climate change, something exemplified in a national poll that was done by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School.

Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion (XR) uses civil disobedience and non-violent actions to try and persuade their governments to react appropriately to the climate crisis.

XR, though first established in the United Kingdom, has members across the world. XR, as a movement, believes that there is no other choice but to rebel against the systems that have brought us to the point of climate disaster that we have reached, a sentiment I have to agree with.

While XR and activists associated with the movement plan and participate in marches, protests, and events, the movement also has an amazing website that highlights news about the climate crisis, the overall climate movement, and even news pieces about hope and resistance despite the bleak state of the world. 

The website also has an amazing map (shown to the right) feature where you can view upcoming XR events and even just groups of XR activists around the world so that you can get involved or interact with the work being done globally to fight climate change.