Category: transport

Dieselgate goes global and Africa pays the price

Sophie Mbugua writes a good article on the Deutsche Welle website about how industrialised countries are sending their used and unwanted diesel vehicles to Africa with serious air quality implications. For starters, there is a need for African countries to improve their environmental regulations and ensure good enforcement.   Is Africa becoming the world's dumping … Continue reading Dieselgate goes global and Africa pays the price →

Blog from Sophie Shnapp: New London toxic cruise port creates pollution hotspot

This year, 36 enormous cruise ship hotels will be moored on the Thames in London between Greenwich and Tower Bridge, some for several days at a time, each burning thick diesel and belching out poisonous fumes. The toxic fumes from these cruise liners exacerbate London’s existing deadly pollution levels. Air pollution alone leads to 9,500 … Continue reading Blog from Sophie Shnapp: New London toxic cruise port creates pollution hotspot →

New testing makes vehicles perform worse than they really do

We have read about how many car manufacturers have found ways to cheat fuel economy and emissions tests. Ben Webster writes in The Times that, now that these manufacturers have had to change their ways, they have instead changed the tests to show the opposite. And he explains why.   Cars ‘rigged to perform badly’ … Continue reading New testing makes vehicles perform worse than they really do →

Super-polluting trucks granted loophole to be manufactured in US

Much has been said about the now departed head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt. Leaders like to leave a legacy but this is one that is going to do severe harm to the environment. Eric Lipton explains in an article in the New York Times.   ‘Super Polluting’ Trucks Receive Loophole on … Continue reading Super-polluting trucks granted loophole to be manufactured in US →

Self-driving cars are likely to increase – rather than decrease – car travel

As cities are increasingly taking action to reduce traffic congestion through increased public transport, cycling and other related measures, there is growing concern that the new trend towards autonomous vehicles could actually have a negative impact through their increased use. Mark Kleinman, Professor of Public Policy and Charlene Rohr, Senior Research Fellow at King's College … Continue reading Self-driving cars are likely to increase – rather than decrease – car travel →

Sailing ships can offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to the heavily polluting shipping industry

Sometimes it is necessary to look at traditional methods of transport to see the possibilities for the future. Christiaan De Beukelaer, Lecturer in Cultural Policy at the University of Melbourne writes on The Conversation website about how traditional sailing can provide a practical response to climate change.   How traditional methods could deliver zero-emission shipping … Continue reading Sailing ships can offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to the heavily polluting shipping industry →

When going green doesn’t solve everything in the shipping industry

Paul A. Davies, Visiting Professor in Risk Assessment and Marine Technology, at Liverpool John Moores University, explains in an article on The Conversation website that the use of greener fuels for shipping has many benefits but compared to traditional fuels, greener alternatives have a greater potential to cause major accidents. He concludes that the shipping … Continue reading When going green doesn’t solve everything in the shipping industry →

Blog from Silvia Zinetti: Sprynt – sustainable urban mobility solution from the U.S.

Urban mobility is an extremely important topic for towns and cities around the world. Cities are filled with traffic congestion, noise pollution, and most importantly a deterioration of urban air quality. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation in the U.S. generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (28%)[i], while … Continue reading Blog from Silvia Zinetti: Sprynt – sustainable urban mobility solution from the U.S. →

Why carbon emissions have dropped in Europe’s cars but not for all vehicles

There is a new briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA) Emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars have dropped in a number of European countries where a range of taxes, subsidies and other incentives are used to encourage consumers to purchase lower-carbon-dioxide (CO2) emitting vehicles. The number of countries offering incentives for electric … Continue reading Why carbon emissions have dropped in Europe’s cars but not for all vehicles →