It’s an environmentalist’s adage: think globally, act locally. But does this strategy work for reducing greenhouse gas emissions produced by vehicles? New research from Northeastern University finds that it’s a mixed bag. “Overall, climate planning strategies help us reduce driving or help us increase non-auto commutes,” says Serena Alexander, associate professor of public policy and environmental engineering at Northeastern. “But certain strategies work a lot better at the local level and, for other strategies, regional alignment is important.”
Transportation accounts for the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with 28% of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the sector. Fifty-seven percent of those emissions are from passenger or light-duty vehicles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. But vehicle miles traveled — a measure of how much Americans drive — continues to rise, even despite the growth of remote work during and after the pandemic.
