Transportation takes top honors in carbon dioxide emissions for Reading (MA)

http://www.townonline.com/reading/opinion/8999027961717850111

After completing the first milestone in the Cities for Climate Protection program, Reading’s Advisory Committee for Cities for Climate Protection (ACCCP) concluded that transportation contributed 60 percent of Reading’s CO2 emissions (I-93 and I-95 traffic excluded) followed by residential homes that contributed 29 percent.

So, what are CO2 emissions and why do we need to reduce them? Simply stated, CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps the heat from the sun and raises the Earth’s temperature. Higher Earth temperatures mean more energy in the weather system and the melting of glaciers. These factors contribute to more destructive storms, the flooding of coastal land and possible shutdown of ocean systems. Higher temperatures also cause the evaporation of water from soil causing the loss of arable land and higher frequency of wild fire. In short, the higher the Earth’s temperature, the less capable it is of supporting human life.

Minimizing global warming requires reduction in electricity usage, fuel usage and waste from all sectors of society including residents, government and businesses. As reflected in ACCCP’s analysis of Reading, transportation is the biggest contributor of human emissions.

What are some things Reading residents can do to lower our transportation emissions?

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