Paper 1
Sustainable Transportation/Green Transportation
Adnan Matouq
Dr. Jonathan Davis
SCM 4307
March 12th, 2015
Our modern world experiences a problem with pollution. It’s reached a point
where it is undeniable. The average individual in the U.S. produces about twenty-seven
tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), which cause changes in the climate, as well as the
enormous amount of 102 pounds of nitrogen oxide, which creates smog, leads to lung
cancer, and acid rain1. Thus, it is clear that pollution has become an incredibly large
problem and while damage is irreversible, there are efforts that can be taken to lessen it.
With transportation being a major contributor in carbon emissions, new and sustainable
ways must be explored in order to minimize the pollution.
Motor vehicles (cars, buses, etc.), and non-road vehicles such as trains and boats
cause 75% of the carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a gas that is tasteless, colorless
and odorless. It is released by the combustion of materials containing carbon atoms. If
there is not enough oxygen in the combustion process, carbon monoxide is produced
instead of carbon dioxide. Being slightly lighter than air, it rises to the ozone and
although it has no atmospheric damage, carbon monoxide can be turned into carbon
dioxide through atmospheric reactions; therefore harming the ozone layer. It is also
extremely toxic to humans and animals, even in small doses.
An effective alternative that has been posed for a long time now is sustainable
transportation, or green transportation. This is a form of transportation that does not rely
on the use of natural resources in order to get from point A to point B. Green
transportation relies on the use of renewable energy (i.e. solar panels) or any energy
source that can be regenerated. The Transportation Association of Canada requires that
1 “Cars, Trucks, Buses, and.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.epa.gov/airquality/peg_caa/carstrucks.html>.
2
sustainable transportation benefit three main sectors: the natural environment, society,
and the economy. The idea behind the impact towards natural environment is to limit the
waste and carbon emissions to keep harmful pathogens away from the air, soil and water.
The transportation system should also do the utmost to recycle materials that are
recyclable in old vehicles such as steel and plastic. Lastly, inexhaustible resources rather
than fossil fuels should power the vehicles used. Sustainable transportation should
impact the society in that it helps to improve rather than hinder the health of all life
forms, as well as provide an effective and efficient method of transportation of goods and
services. The aim in the economic sector is to minimize the economic costs for the
present and future generations, while also maximizing the economic efficiency.
All sorts of logistics companies use all methods of transportations to move around
their inventories of goods and services. Millions of items are being transported every day
