Daily Travel and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Passenger Transport

Abstract

Federal, state, and local governments in the United States and Germany have the goal of reducing petroleum use and associated greenhouse gas emissions from passenger ground transport. This paper compares trends of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger transport in Germany and the United States since 1990. Germany reduced CO2 emissions from passenger transport at a rate faster than that of the United States–-even with controls applied for population growth, economic activity, and travel demand. Furthermore, for all indicators, CO2 emissions from transport were much higher in the United States than in Germany: 11.7 times greater for total CO2 emissions, 3.1 times greater per capita, 2.1 times greater per passenger kilometer, and 2.4 times greater per unit of gross domestic product. Also compared are U.S. and German policies that can help decrease CO2 emissions from passenger transport through improvements in technology, including fuel economy and CO2 tailpipe emission standards, vehicle registration fees and taxes, incentive programs for the purchase of fuel-efficient cars, and biofuel standards. Finally, policies in Germany and the United States that shape the relative attractiveness of driving, public transport, walking, and cycling are highlighted. The analysis concludes with policy lessons for the two countries.