Greenhouse Effect

Numerous studies have shown how harmful emissions are being sent into our atmosphere and their impact on the "greenhouse effect" and global warming. Some studies have given an alternative for the harmful emissions in the form of self-driving cars. The global issue of how transportation harmfully effects the environment. The global perspectives presented on this global issue is those who believe transportation and harmful emissions are not harmfully affecting the atmosphere and those who believe that there are alternatives that could be used as a savior of some sorts for the environment. One side of the global issue believes that fossil fuel combustion has been known as one of the major contributors to air pollution in the world. “Pollution discharged by petrol vehicle and exhaust emissions include dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates. Evaporative emissions: vapors of fuel, which are released into the atmosphere, without being burnt.”( "Cars and Air Pollution." Air Quality For Kids. EPA Victoria, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.) With many of these harmful conditions being set on our atmosphere every single day, it goes on to ask the question, “are we driving ourselves into extinction?”

The other perspective of the global issue see a savior for the environment with the newest latest technological invention known as self-driving cars. These self-driving cars are known to not only not send off harmful gases that would destroy the ozone layer but also effectively decrease the number of yearly car crashes and deaths by car crashes. Another alternative seemed to being addressed is hybrid vehicles. These vehicles can obtain their energy from batteries or petrol. Although these cars are still uncommon, they are pointing the way to a future with cars contributing less to air pollution.

In today’s world, environmentalists have grown concern from the harmful effects of diesel engines and carbon dioxide emissions being blown into our atmosphere. Many have came up with causes of how these gases are being thrown into the atmosphere. One of the most increasing problems is the act of having your car on but not actually driving the car or idling. “Idling during stalled traffic could waste some 26 million tons of extra gas emissions a year.” (Shaw, Jerry. "Cars and Global Warming: Does Idling Your Car Affect the Environment?" Newsmax. Newsmax Media, 22 Mar. 2015. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.) “Whether you are driving or idling your car, it unleashes pollutants from the exhaust into the air. The gases emitted from an operating car include carbon dioxide, or CO2, a major greenhouse gas involved in climate change.”(Shaw, Jerry. "Cars and Global Warming: Does Idling Your Car Affect the Environment?" Newsmax. Newsmax Media, 22 Mar. 2015. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.) Diesel engines are also part of the problem when coming to letting off harmful gases into the atmosphere. “Although diesel cars obtain 25 to 35 percent better mileage and emit less carbon dioxide than similar gasoline cars, they can emit 25 to 400 times more mass of particulate black carbon and associated organic matter.”(Jacobson, Mark. "Despite Lower Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Diesel Cars May Promote More Global Warming than Gasoline Cars." Stanford News. Stanford University, 23 Feb. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.) This global perspective believes that diesel engines within cars give off very harmful emissions that will lead to destruction of our ozone layer thus leading to our certain extinction.

The second perspective on this global issue seeks to give off alternatives that will lead to being the savior for our environment. One of these alternatives is the new technological advancement coming up in the world called self-driving cars. “Self-driving vehicles hold the potential to reduce these emissions by driving more efficiently, including the possibility of not having to stop at intersections or even red lights as cars seamlessly avoid each other. Vehicles may also be able to tailgate like train cars, adding more capacity and enabling efficient speeds for existing roads and highways.” (Elknid, Ethan. "Could Self-driving Cars Help the Environment?" Berkeley Blog. Climate Change and Business Program, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.) Cars may also become extremely lightweight and fuel efficient, as consumers no longer need heavy cars to survive collisions.” “Self-driving vehicles may also out-compete public transit for those who can afford to drive, as their cars would provide the same benefits as transit without the hassles. In addition, self-driving vehicles may clog the road as households share vehicles that drive themselves around to pick up multiple people, such as spouses driving the same car to work at different times.” (Elknid, Ethan. "Could Self-driving Cars Help the Environment?" Berkeley Blog. Climate Change and Business Program, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.) Another alternative in saving the environment is public transportation in major cities with huge populations. “Strong transit is vital to "smart growth" strategies that help our cities reduce the cost and undesirable impacts of urban sprawl. Transit reduces the amount of green space that must be paved over for new roads and parking lots. It also makes cities cleaner, quieter, safer and more convenient for getting around.” (Harper, Stephen. "Environmental Benefits of Public Transporation." City Windsor. Transit Windsor, 29 June 2008. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.)

The main reasoning behind the article, “Despite lower carbon dioxide emissions, diesel cars may promote more global warming than gasoline cars”, was to present different statistics on how harmful diesel cars affect our environment. This source comes an article in an educational newspaper. The various strong points within this article come from the numbers that it presents which shows how diesel cars indeed harm our environment more than gasoline cars. The overall conclusion this article tries to conclude is in order to save our environment, we need to cut down on our usage of diesel cars and use diesel cars as an