Burning fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change. CO2 is the most important human-made GHG, and highway vehicles account for 26% of U.S. CO2 emissions (1.7 billion tons each year). You'd Be Amazed... Each gallon of gasoline you burn creates 20 pounds of CO2. The average vehicle emits around 6 to 9 tons of CO2 each year. What Can I Do?
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More Information on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Global Warming: Frequently Asked Questions (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA])
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Data Sources Highway vehicle CO2 emissions based on EPA's Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 – 2006. April 2008. Average vehicle CO2 emissions based on Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 27. Table 11.9, p. 11-13. 2008. |