Essay Example on Pollution Crisis: Transportation Sector a Major Global Source

The transportation sector has become a primary global source of pollution in the recent past. For instance, public service vehicles have been noted as the leading producer of contaminants and harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides (Suh et al., 625). In 2013 alone, transportation had contributed more than half of the nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide as well as almost a quarter of the emitted hydrocarbons across the world (Bigazzi and Amr 243). Again, overpopulated areas such as Kanpur, India are likely to experience the impacts of transportation pollution due to the increased number of vehicles that emit harmful gases and contaminants to the environment (Gwilliam, Masami, and Todd 5). As such, it is essential to note that overpopulated cities and a lack of energy-efficient transportation systems are significant causes of pollution all around the world today.

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According to the Sector Operator Program of Transport from 2007 to 2013 described by Romania, the transport sector, despite its favorable implication to the economic development as well as the welfare of civilians, it has become a significant pollution source ranging from the noise to the toxic gases they emit (Gwilliam, Masami, and Todd 8). It has been demonstrated by several reports, such as the European Environment Agency, that the transport sector contributes almost one-third of the final energy consumption as well as more than one-fifth of the greenhouse effects caused by the emission of the greenhouse gases (Suh et al., 625).

In the recent past, human beings have focussed on global measures aimed at reducing the pollutions produced by vehicles, especially within the public sector. Such initiatives have been tuned towards cutting the levels of NOx as well as the development of green areas to protect the natural resources in their pristine state (Rivers, Soodeh, and Brandon 9). Romania, for instance, has taken numerous efforts to reduce the levels of pollutions that emanate from the transport sector such as the establishment of the ministry environment and the long-lasting development, stimulation of the use of vehicles that have low emissions of gases as well as the introduction of some fiscal stimulus for the renewal of the national effects (Bigazzi and Amr 241).

Manole Olivia-Elena notes that vehicles remain the primary sources of pollution in Romania since they contribute to the increased production of the oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide as well as carbon dioxide (Gwilliam, Masami, and Todd 9). Again, According to the Kyoto protocol, the various oxides of carbon, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, are viewed as the severe contributors to the greenhouse effect with the transport sector to be blamed significantly for it.

However, taking into cognizance the importance of the vehicles in building the economies of countries such as Romania, a coherent approach or strategy should be taken to strike a balance between the economic aspect as well as the aspect of environmental sustainability through pollution eradication (Gwilliam, Masami, and Todd 10). Despite the numerous efforts by various vehicle producers to make provisions for reduced fuel consumptions and gas emissions, various governments ought to take necessary steps to ensure that they enhance the regular use of vehicles characterized by low fuel consumption as well as reduced emission of greenhouse gases to the environment (Rivers, Soodeh and Brandon 10).

For instance, various governments could curb the emission of pollutants through the formulation of relevant policies and regulations, such as the imposition of taxes or fines on vehicles that produce harmful gas pollutants to the environment (Rivers, Soodeh and Brandon 7). The European Union has recommended a decrease in the number of old cars, especially those that emit gas pollutants as well as consume large amounts of fuel. Again, there could be the unitary application of various taxes to the national parks to reduce the imminent pollution that could be caused by the many vehicles observed in multiple parks.

Moreover, according to Bigazzi and Mohamed, there is an increasing and pressing need for the reduction of the pollutions that emanate from the transportation sector as well as the negative impacts that it may have on the air quality, global climate,,, as well as public health in general. The air pollution-related to traffic have been noted to have some detrimental health impacts (Rivers, Soodeh, and Brandon 7). A study conducted by the IPCC also indicates that the transportation sector contributes to the emission of a more significant portion of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, thus providing immensely to global climate change (Suh et al., 625). However, due to the complexity and the scope of the issues of sustainability within the sector of transportation, the integrated strategy has often been recommended by various agencies across the world.

Furthermore, according to the U.S. Environmental protection Agency, their traffic management could play an essential role in reducing the vehicle emissions through initiatives such as speed management, road restrictions as well as the implementation of various trip restriction strategies (Rivers, Soodeh and Brandon 7). Again the article by Bigazi and Mohamed illustrates that there is a wide array of strategies that could be implemented by the government and the vehicle manufacturing industries to reduce the emission of gases and fuel consumption (Suh et al., 626). Such strategies include fuel or vehicle technological developments as well as carbon or fuel pricing and implementation of various vehicle regulations and standards, among others.

It is essential to note that the traffic management strategies significantly influence the emission to the environment by reducing the amounts of kilometers covered thus, consequently resulting in reduced rates of emission (Bigazzi and Amr 245). This is because the vehicle kilometer covered is always influenced; for instance, the changes in the speed of the vehicles, as well as the types of cars driven.

However, several reviews have indicated that the traffic management strategies have reduced effectiveness, especially in reducing the emission of toxic gases as well as generally improving the air quality. However, it should be noted that the lack of such empirical evidence does not rule out any benefits (Suh et al., 627). For instance, many modeling studies have supported the implementation of traffic management strategies in reducing motor vehicle emissions. As such, the various road management strategies that have been observed to significant impacts on the gas emission and fuel consumption include; eco-driving, lowering speed limits, traffic signal timing, intersection control devices as well as the employee-based programs and initiatives (Rivers, Soodeh and Brandon 10).

It is also essential to note that most of the sustainable transportation strategies could be implemented through various policies that are pursued at the industry or the high levels of the government such as vehicle and fuel technological developments, carbon pricing as well as the vehicle and fuel standards and regulations at the points of manufacture (Suh et al., 628). As such, to better inform sustainable transportation decision-making, there is a need for improved knowledge of the benefits and world-effects of the transport management system.

Most importantly, because the environmental and air quality considerations are essential motivations in the transportation market, it is necessary to acknowledge the importance of transport management strategies in improving air quality emissions and the related health objectives (Katsioloudis, Petros, and Mildred 9). As such, the role of transport management strategies needs to be investigated expeditiously for improved environmental outcomes.

One of the biggest targets of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is the shipping industry, particularly the diesel engines that power the ships. Just like in the case of the aircraft, shipping has been considered one of the most significant contributors to pollution (Katsioloudis, Petros, and Mildred 8). Although ships could be regarded as the most efficient transportation method, it is essential to address its overall effects on the environment. For instance, there are two main types of diesel power engines include auxiliary and main propulsion.

The shipping industry has been immensely associated with sulfur pollution. For instance, it has been reported by various sources that only 16 of the world's biggest ships could produce as much lung-clogging sulfur pollution as all the cars in the world (Bigazzi and Amr 246). The largest ship in the world, for example, can release up to 5000 tons of sulfur per year as well as one billion tons of carbon dioxide.

Important to note, various actors in the shipping industry are investing in greener ways to power ships with reduced emission of carbon dioxide and sulfur. The designs for green ships could include the innovative project that had been launched by Skysails in 2001 (Bigazzi and Amr 241). The project was both ecologically and economically sustainable since it resulted in reduced fuel consumption as well as reduced emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the environment.

Just like all the other forms of transport, the challenge with the shipping industry is not only on the way they are powered but the dangers that they may have on the environment (Katsioloudis, Petros and Mildred 6). For instance, oil spillages from various shipping vessels are significant environmental disasters characterized by the annihilation of the ecosystem such as the death of the marine animals, animals as well as other living things within the marine ecosystem.

Apart from the shipping industry, trucking has also been associated with significant emissions of harmful gases. For instance, a report indicated that the trucking industry contributes about 20% of all transport-related emissions (Gwilliam, Masami, and Todd 7). However, a report by the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change indicate that trucking accounts for about 72% of the carbon emission as well as the transportation energy use (Katsioloudis, Petros and Mildred 9).

However, many companies are changing how they operate their vehicles through the implementation of alternative fuel options as well as changing how they do business. The airlines also contribute significantly to the emission of greenhouse gases. For example, reports indicate that air cargo accounts for almost 0.6 percent of the carbon dioxide emission (Bigazzi and Amr 243). Along with the environmental implications of the emissions from the air cargos, jet fuels are also relatively expensive; thus, the need for implementation of various initiatives that are more cost-effective and less environmentally polluting.

Furthermore, the pipeline transport sector also contributes to environmental pollution in terms of oil leakages. However, it is essential to note that the pipeline transport has less environmental impact than all the other forms of transportation because it can be integrated into the usual ecological processes (Katsioloudis, Petros and Mildred 9). Although some animals could be affected during the laying of the pipes, only a little disturbance could be recorded, especially when there are adequate measures during the planning phase. The water and air quality around the pipes ought to be monitored to ensure minimal environmental impacts. Alaskan Pipeline has been immensely adopted as the best model for sustainable development, whereby there is little suffering of the environment around the various pipelines.

Conclusion

Moreover, the railway/ train sector, according to the 2008 EPA report, contributes about 22% of the emissions that emanate from the transportation-r...