My Reflection on reading environmental report issued by CNN

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My Reflection on reading environmental report issued by CNN
by \| 14-06-2014 17:48 0
This article illustrates costs and harmful effects of our driving cars, which are usually perceived by the general public vaguely, in an articulate and convincing manner. It is noteworthy that the average American spends more money on transportation than food each year. According to the article, they also spend twice as much money on transportation as on health care. Cars are also known ?to contribute to cancer and heart and respiratory diseases by spewing pollution, adding heat to the summer-hot city and preventing exercise?. While self-driving offers such benefits as enhanced self-time control and schedule, less physical fatigue, and sometimes door to door convenience particularly under rainy season, negative impacts, either economical or physical far outweigh these benefits. In addition, spreading negative externalities to the society, the harm caused to the society as a whole far exceeds personal costs. This is why clean energy initiatives being driven in many developed as well as developing countries usually have sustainable transportation as a key component of the efforts. By transforming transportation mode mainly from car driving to mass transportation such as railways, subways and other mass/public transportation, we could help solving traffic conjestion problems on the road and further enhance people?s health condition by reducing CO₂ emissions. Nevertheless, the fundamental question is how much people are willing to sacrifice imminent self interest for the sake of longer term benefits and societal welfare. Policy makers should clearly recognize this constraint and thus have to come up with appropriate incentive mechanism through tax or subsidy until this transformation takes root and gain traction in the society. Article source: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/21/opinion/sanderson-earth-day-cars/index.html?iref=allsearch

Dormant user

6 Comments

says :
It's surprising that Americans spend much more money for car and hospital than foods!
For me, I gave up using car and use my money on buying fresh and healthy food. And as the result I gain healthier body and more save in the bank :D

Posted 17-06-2014 11:27

says :
Jae, this is well reported.
And Konstantinos, expensive cars may create a divide. But we have to make a choice between Social & Environmental cause.
Efficient public transport is the key to success, besides incentives for usage & taxes on cars to discourage them.
Posted 16-06-2014 17:09

says :
Very interestin! I agree with Rohan, unfortunately in order to prevent people from using their cars, the most viable choice is to make it more expensive. However, this wont create a dam between the higher and the lower social classes?
Posted 16-06-2014 03:50

Arushi Madan says :
Thanks for sharing , the pros and cons of own cars. You are absolutely right that though there are few benefits of self driven car but the negative effects outweigh them. To encourage public transport usage , govts should enforce a law which won't allow more than 1 car for a home/family. Public transport should be heavily subsidised and users of public transport should be extra incentives (as you also mentioned).
Posted 15-06-2014 19:07

Rohan Kapur says :
Owning of cars should be made expensive. We may review Singapore model for reference. Prior to purchasing the car, the certificate of entitlements costs approx. $47,000.
Apart from this Green fuel, car pooling, robust public transportation system covering a majority of population, etc. are other measures to reduce car congestion.
Posted 15-06-2014 13:14