Transportation sector - reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions mitigation - to reduce climate change.
Toronto is the site of the very first streetcar line in North
America! A Canadian inventor developed the "wand" that
connects the power line to the street car. The first demonstration
was held on the grounds of the Central National Exhibiton.
Streetcars are back in style again as they use less fossil fuel
per passenger.
The emission of greenhouse gases due to fossil fuel consumption
by traditional 20th century vehicles is a major focus
for change.
Automobiles now have more recyclable parts that use less energy
to remanufacture. However new designer fuel efficiencies have
so far only allowed manufacturers to build bigger vehicles while
maintaining mileage and maximum allowed emission standards. The
conversions to natural gas and propane have slowed since the
oil crisis of the 1980's.
One positive action taken by the Ontario government is to have
automobiles more than 3 years old be checked for emissions. Safety
checks for used vehicles has been in place for sometime.
Funding for mass transit in cities and between cities is being
reviewed. Rapid rail connections between major population centres
are under study. Carpool parking lots are spreading through the
province along major highways.
Bus lines are being reviewed to ease connections across the
Greater Toronto Area and adjoining municipalities.
Parking lots for mass transit such as GO stations are being
reviewed for increasing capacity. Special rates are in place
to encourage drivers to park and ride public transit.
Union Station in Toronto where rail lines, subway and GO lines
intersect is being revitalized to include more and easier connections.
All of these are measures to move people and goods more effectively
and efficiently while using less fossil fuel emitting fewer
greenhouse gases.
More incentives are needed to speed up the development and arrival
of vehicle and mass transportation designs for the 21st century
for moving goods and for moving people.
Winter supply transportation routes - ice roads will be short
lived and more dangerous and eventually may have to be replaced
by the use of cargo dirigibles- to deliver supplies to the far
northern communities that are isolated with neither roads nor
railways.
The St.Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes may experience such low
water levels that alternatives may such as transfer to smaller
vessels or rail lines may be economically viable. The figure
below is some indication that this adaptation is already being
studied. It may not work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions however.
Source: International Joint Commission (IJC) Climate Change
and Water Quality in the Great Lakes Region. May2003 www.ijc.org
Activity:
- Check the labels on the x and y axes. What
does the straight black line indicate?
- What does the coloured arrow indicate?
Research:
- How might the above graph indicate changes
in decisions made by a resident on a smaller lake in Ontario?
Hint check recreation, tourism etc.
- What effects would a doubling of the cost
of Ontario gasoline have on the Ontario economy
Also See Activities
in 7.2.2.2
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