Climate Change
The transportation sector is a leading emitter of contributor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a major contributor to climate change. At the same time, rising temperatures, high winds, flooding, droughts, and other severe weather events can cause minor to catastrophic damage to existing transportation systems. Action on climate change will require a systems approach across all transportation modes to reduce GHG emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, and build a more resilient transportation system. Governments and transportation agencies can do so in many ways, including:
- Transitioning to cleaner fuels and transportation technologies to reduce GHG emissions, including the use of zero-emission vehicles, sustainable aviation fuels, and new maritime fuels.
- Promoting the use of sustainable materials and construction practices to reduce emissions on a lifecycle basis.
- Conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to determine what aspects of the transportation system are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and to implement adaptation strategies to improve resilience.
- Developing all-hazards preparedness, response, and recovery strategies to make it easier and faster to recover from extreme weather events.
Toolkits:
Momentum Toolkits relating to Climate Change include:
- Addressing Transportation’s Impact: A Starter Guide to Reducing Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Building Resilient Infrastructure: How to Create Strong and Adaptable Transportation Systems
- Transitioning to Zero-Emission Bus Operations: Considerations for Greening Transit
- Decarbonizing the Maritime Shipping Industry: A Starter Guide to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Maritime Shipping
- Charging Ahead: How Government Agencies Can Support the Electrification of Private Vehicle Fleets
Last updated: Wednesday, December 6, 2023