The global climate is changing and the human contribution makes this change negative. Rapid industrialization, so vital for humanity, pollutes the environment and it is possible to predict that in the nearest future water, air and land will be so polluted that humans will not be able to use natural resources for consumption purposes. The global community understands that there is an urgent need to address this issue and find a way to reduce environmental pollution nevertheless, it seems that very little has been accomplished till today. The global community tries to find ways to clean up the environment, but initiatives are not supported and people show little care about the world they live in.
Global climate change will influence my lifestyle in the future: maybe I will be forced to drive less, or the petroleum will become so expensive that I am not able to afford it. I cannot predict how my life will change, but I think it will be changed. I, as a user of the car, believe that every time of transportation does negatively influence the environment and changes the global climate. At the same time, I am sure that society will not pay enough attention to the problem until the condition of the environment is so much damaged that it becomes critical to a healthy lifestyle.
According to the report Transport and Climate Change, transport is a significant contributor to climate change in developed, as well as developing countries. Modern transport systems are damaging to the global environment. Transportation results in noise, vibration, and air pollution which is damaging for the health and well-being of people (Transport and Climate Change).
Of course, the usage of cars will never be abolished and I will be able to drive my car as I do now, however, the climate change caused by transportation emissions might force the government to introduce laws about the acceptable level of emission and impose taxes on drivers of “dangerous” car. Therefore, climate change might lead to the situation when I and other people will have to switch to ecologically friendly cars.
If the climate is changed and there is a threat to humanity (far future, I think), people will be ready to do something to prevent the global catastrophe. I would be worried as well and would support the initiatives of using environmentally-friendly vehicles.
One of the interesting and easy solutions is offered on the Canadian Climate Change Control site: “An easy, cost-saving way to slash these emissions is to carpool. If all commuters shared a ride with one other person just one day a week, traffic congestion and polluting emissions on our roadways would be cut by 20 percent. Twice a week and the health benefits would double to 40 percent, along with reduced wear and tear on our roads” (Carpooling Drives Emissions Down). Such minimization of the emissions sounds realistic to achieve, and it is easy to follow by the drivers. Even though there is no research providing information about the willingness of people to use transportation in this manner, I am sure my usage of transportation would follow this pattern when climate change took place.
If to imagine the life in future, let’s say in 25 years from now), it can be the case that the number of cars used by people will increase dramatically (current tendency – cars become cheaper, income level increases, more people can buy cars). As the result, the emissions into the air will also increase, the pollution will intensify and climate change will follow. I believe that most of the families in Canada and the USA have two or more cards, which are used on the daily basis. Climate change might force my family and others to use one car only.
Climate change will most likely take place and I cannot change the situation, however, I can contribute to decreasing the level of pollution by myself because I do not want climate change to influence my life in the future. I can drive less and ask friends to pick me up when we are going somewhere together. These are small initiatives, but if other people join me, maybe climate change will not take place.
If nine years ago Pucher warned Canadians about being more “advised to preserve their more balanced transport system and to avoid the serious social and environmental consequences of extreme auto dependence so obvious in the United States” (30), today such warning is still timely. My driving habits will change when the climate changes, and I will have to drive less, even though it can be avoided if environment-friendly cars are used.
I do not deny the importance of minimizing the pollution of the environment and preventing climate change, however, I do not see it possible to change the lifestyle of modern people at the moment who are used to cars and other transportation despite the harm they cause to nature. Nevertheless, the failure to convince the global community to change lifestyle voluntarily will lead to forced change when the climate becomes more severe.
The environment is an important factor and needs to be taken care of as soon as possible but the environment can not be changed if our economy is not doing well. Overall, the climate change in the future will make it so that I may have to either carpool, buy an ecologically friendly car or even walk to local destinations.
Works Cited
Carpooling Drives Emissions Down. Climate Change Central. 2007. Web.
Pucher, John. “Back on Track: Eight Steps to Rejuvenate Public Transport in Canada.” Alternatives Journal 24.1 (winter 1998): 26+.
Transport and Climate Change. Climate Network Europe. 2007. Web.