Climate and Sustainability

Climate change presents a significant and growing risk to our transportation infrastructure, the communities it serves, and the people who rely on it. DOT is committed to using all of its authorities to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transportation-related pollution and build a more resilient and sustainable transportation systems to benefit communities.

In our lifetimes, we have seen the dimensions of climate change advance from theory, to observation, to emergency. In my first year as Secretary, we've seen mudslides take out a highway in Colorado, steel cables on the verge of melting in Oregon, and train service shut down by wildfires in the West. And yet, transportation isn’t just a affected by the climate crisis; it’s also one of the key areas for confronting it. Transportation produces more emissions than any other sector—which also means it can and must be a big part of the solution. The Department of Transportation is committed to building a modern, sustainable transportation system that will serve all Americans for generations to come.” —Secretary Buttigieg