Reduce your carbon footprint when travelling
Canadians and Americans have the highest transport related carbon footprints in the world.
Each Canadian produces about 6 tons of CO² by transport alone..
The daily use of cars is a considerable source of pollution (namely creating smog) and strongly accentuates climate change at the global level.
Use alternative means of transportation
Did you know that...?
North Americans accumulate more than 8,000 billion passenger kilometres per year in road and air travel. That's the equivalent of 21 millions times the distance between the Earth and the moon or enough to go around the planet every 18 months.
- Reduce your travels by car and plane as much as possible, and favour the train on distances allowing it.
- You can walk, cycle or in-line skate. All these modes of travel cause less pollution, expenses and greatly improve your health. Obviously, in winter these modes of transportation are inadequate, but in summer they're more pleasant than your car.
- Use public transport. The emissions caused by the vehicle are divided by the number of passengers, therefore your carbon footprint is greatly reduced.
- Think of car-pooling. Share your car when possible, this will allow you to reduce your costs and ecological footprint by 50 to 70%.
Did you know that...?
In Canada, only 1% of all trips are made by bike, compared to 27% in Holland, where the winter climate isn't much warmer than Quebec's.
Choose a fuel-efficient car
If you think of changing your automobile, buy a fuel-efficient one, especially if you'll be using it everyday. You have three choices for a low-energy consumption vehicle.
- Hybrid vehicles: they possess two motors (an internal combustion motor and an electric motor) which alternate depending on your driving speed. In town, the electric motor works, so there is almost no gas consumption. It uses less gas and therefore emits less greenhouse gases. Of course, it costs more to purchase, but considering the rising price of gas, they become more interesting and allow you to save about $1,500 per year. Also think of existing government and insurance rebates to encourage your acquisition of such a vehicle.
- Electric vehicles: emit 0 greenhouse gas. They are particularly appropriate in urban zones if a limited kilometer-range doesn't pose a problem. We'll probably have to wait a few years for the technology to improve.
- Diesel vehicles: Reject less CO² than a gas-run car but their emissions are more harmful to our health (they contain sulfur dioxide and nitrogen).
Use your car differently
Did you know that...?
Air pollution contributes to the death of more than 136,000 Canadians each year.
- Only have one car per household.
- Practice eco-driving: This allows you to lower your gas consumption, your CO² emissions, noise and pollution in your city or environment along with the cost of repairs and maintenance for your vehicle.
Some eco-driving tips
- Drive more slowly.
- Start slowly and anticipate your stops to brake more gently.
- Don't leave your motor running when you stop.
- Avoid air-conditioning.
- Avoid rush-hour traffic.
- Check your tire pressure. Insufficient pressure can cause the additional a consumption of 643 million litres of gas per year for the owner of a light vehicle.
- Empty your trunk, and remove your luggage or bike rack when you're not using them. Their additional weight can increase gas consumption by 1 to 2%.
You will find more tips ans information about eco-driving on the Ecodrive website.
- If the use of your car is indispensable, you can always compensate the emissions caused through travelling, by buying compensatory carbon credits. This is the funding of renewable energy projects, energy efficiency or tree-planting, all of which absorb a quantity of the CO² you have rejected into the atmosphere. Be careful though; the projects that you fund must exist because you fund them and not before you fund them. Also watch out for fraudulent credit vendors with the emergence of the carbon market. Therefore, you can refer to the following organizations and avoid rip-offs: Planetair or Myclimate.