Archive for November 2009

Time to reduce speed limits?

With the oil crisis in the 1970s, some countries reduced their national speed limits in order to reduce the amount of oil used. Maybe it is time to do this again. This would be an easy, cost-effective method to reduce emissions, and these reductions could be realised from day one of this new policy being passed. Current speed limits around the world can be found on the Wikipedia website - I think a global limit of 60mph would be quite effective, without affecting driving times too much.

On the AA website, they say “According to the Department for Transport driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more than at 50mph. Cruising at 80mph can use up to 25% more fuel than at 70mph. “

Climate Science Statement by the UK Met Office

The UK’s Met Office has just released their Climate Science Statement which makes for some interesting reading by a very reputable source.

Carbon emissions increased by massive 29% between 2000 and 2008

According to the Global Carbon Project, carbon emissions increased by a whopping 29% between the years 2000 and 2008. If it carries on this way, average global temperatures could increase by upto 6C, much higher than the 2C increase that is often talked about.

The average person now consumes goods and services equivalent to 1.3 tonnes of carbon, compared with 1.1 tonnes in the year 2000. THE GCP says that if we want to keep the average global temperature rise to 2C, this would have to be reduced dramatically to just 0.3 tonnes by 2050.

At the moment, this looks like it is going to be hard to reach. More details on the Global Carbon Project website and the BBC News website.

I’m just surprised that this type of news does not make bigger headlines in the world’s press.

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