Transport Energy and the Environment

The issue of transport and the environment is a paradox. While transport activities support increased mobility demands in areas ranging from rural to international trade, these activities have resulted in growing level of motorisation and congestion. This has led to the linkage of this sector to environmental problems.

Energy is consumed in transportation. When transport depended on people and animals’ energy came from the food they ate, when sails were used, it came from the wind. The Industrial Revolution meant that energy that drove transport came primarily from coal and since the middle of 20th century from oil.

Coal and oil release gases that pollute the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming. It is whether burning oil for energy is a significant factor such that reducing the use of oil could slow or reverse global warming. The issue is being debated across the world and the outcome will deeply affect the transport sector.

Energy is consumed to transport freight. When transport depended on people and animals, energy came from the food they ate. When they used sails, it came from the wind. The Industrial Revolution meant that energy that drove transport came primarily from coal and since the middle of the 20th century from oil. Coal and oil release gases that pollute the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming. In the current phase of global warming, it is whether burning oil for energy is a significant factor such that reducing the use of oil could slow or reverse global warming. The issue is being debated across the world and the outcome will deeply affect the transport segment.

The options are being considered to reduce the adverse effect of transport on environment.

• Make vehicles more efficient to reduce use of energy
• Electric vehicles to be developed-electric motors are most efficient primary movers.
• Generate clean energy through fuel cells which are significantly efficient than heat engines.
• Streamlining the design surface vehicles which spend upto 75% of their energy on air-resistance.
• Recycle the energy normally lost in braking.

The transport sector is quite often subsidised by the government particularly through creation of infrastructure as roads and bridges. When the owner and regulator are just different departments of the same government, there is a risk that regulations will not be complied to.

The most important impacts of transport on the environment relate to,

• Climate change: Consumption of hydrocarbon fuels in the transport sector release pollutants as – Lead, Nitrous oxides, Benzene volatile components (BTX), Carbon monoxide, Methane, Chlorofluoro carbon (CFC), Heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cu & Cd), Perfluoro carbon (PFC), Silver tetra fluoride, Nitrogen oxide. To what extent their emissions may be linked to climate change is being debated.
• Air quality: The emissions from vehicles affect quality of air causing damage to human health. Toxic air pollutants are associated with cancer, cardio-vascular, respiratory and neurological diseases. CO in bloodstream can be extremely harmful, NO2 causes lung problems etc.
• Noise: Long term exposure to noise levels over 75dB seriously hampers hearing and affects human physical and psychological well-being.
• Water quality: Vehicular emissions contaminate rivers, lakes, water bodies and oceans. Dredging, waste, ballast water and oil spills are effects from marine transportation affecting bio diversity, public health.
• Soil quality: Transportation impacts soil erosion and contamination leading to loss of fertile and productive soils.
• Bio-diversity: Transportation has also influenced natural vegetation through deforestation for construction. Reduction in wet lands has driven out water plant species. Many animals are becoming extinct as a result of changes in their natural habitats.
• Land take: The development of port and airport terminals are features of modern built environment. When a train or highway structures cut across an existing urban community, social and economic cohesion can be severed Arteries or terminals can define new urban borders and produce segregation.

Major transport facilities can affect quality of life by creating physical borders, increasing noise levels, generating odours, reducing urban aesthetics and affecting built heritage.