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Problems in motion

  • 14/08/1996

Problems in motion Transport is an essential human activity and has a critical role in social development. But the environmental costs of this energy-intensive sector are also critical. It generates 20 per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and has a significant impact on the surrounding eco-systems. While all modes of transport have environmental impacts, the most important is road transport which carries 70 per cent of all goods and people. As markets saturate in North America and western Europe, car manufacturers are looking at markets in developing countries where car ownership is extremely low. Much effort is needed to bridge the gap between increasing transport demands and sustainable development for which effective policies have to be devised.

Speed and emission
The amount of pollutants released by private cars at various speeds
  V
km / h
CO
g / km
HC
g / km
NOx
g / km
CO2
g / km
Fuel cons
g / km
Traffic
type
Petrol car 5 72 8.5 1.7 425.5 182 slow urban
25 0.25 3 2 174 65 fluid urban
40 20 2.3 2.2 148 54.5 slow road
70 16.4 1.6 2.7 140 51.5 fluid road
100 15 1.3 3.1 151 56 motorway
120 14 1.1 3.4 162 60 motorway
               
Gasoil* car 5 2.6 0.8 2.1 485 156 slow urban
25 0.9 0.2 0.6 200 63 fluid urban
40 0.7 0.15 0.5 171 54 slow road
70 0.6 0.1 0.5 159 52 fluid road
100 0.6 0.1 0.55 164 56 motorway
120 0.6 0.06 0.6 172 60 motorway

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