During recent years, humans have been responsible for a large majority of greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of climate change caused by transportation is roughly 30% and has increased by over 15% since the 1990’s, and is expected to continue increasing in future years. Only eating food from within 100 miles of your home will greatly reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the distance your food travels, and is also a vital step to fighting climate change and progressing towards more sustainable living.
How does transportation cause climate change?
Over 90% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by transportation is carbon dioxide, which is produced through the combustion of petroleum-based products, such as gasoline and diesel, in the internal combustion engines of vehicles. Other greenhouse gases from transportation include methane and nitrous oxide from fuel combustion.
How does climate change harm our planet?
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere and prevent it from escaping back into space, which causes the planet to warm. This is also known as the "greenhouse effect". This change in climate harms our planet in various ways, including changing precipitation patterns, increasing sea level, increasing ocean acidification, increasing threats to human health and biodiversity, and changing ecosystems.