Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
America is a nation on the go! According to the Center for the New American Dream, the number of miles that Americans travel each year has more than tripled since 1960. About 28 percent of the energy this country uses each year goes to transporting people and stuff from one place to another. Personal vehicles, such as cars, SUVs, and light trucks, consume 63 percent of the total energy used for transportation while mass transit (like airplanes, trains, and buses) accounts for the rest.
Most means of transportation produce greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
If you are traveling in the United States, consider taking a family-friendly train ride to your destination. Try to reduce the number of plane trips you take and try not to use a plane for any trip under 600 miles.
Planes emit more carbon dioxide per traveler than any other means of transportation, followed by cars and trains. In addition, airports and their aircraft produce large quantities of noise pollution and toxic emissions, both of which are a threat to human health. In particular, they produce very large quantities of nitrogen oxides and VOCs.
