Sustainability Issue 2022: The Dirty Side of Transportation

Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer. Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere during the past 150 years, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. 

The largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions from human activities in the U.S. is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation.

The majority of greenhouse-gas emissions from transportation are carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum-based products such as gasoline and diesel fuel in internal-combustion engines. The largest sources of transportation-related greenhouse-gas emissions include passenger cars; medium- and heavy-duty trucks; and light-duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and minivans. These sources account for more than half of the emissions from the transportation sector.

The remaining greenhouse-gas emissions from the transportation sector come from other modes of transportation, including commercial aircraft, ships, boats and trains, as well as pipelines and lubricants.

By the Numbers

27% 

Percentage of CO₂ emissions contributed by the transportation sector, officially defined as the movement of people and goods by cars, trucks, trains, ships, airplanes and other vehicles 

90%+ 

Percentage of the fuel used for transportation that is petroleum based (primarily gasoline and diesel)

8,887 grams 

Amount of CO₂ emissions from one gallon of gasoline

10,180 grams 

Amount of CO₂ emissions from one gallon of diesel

404 grams 

Amount of CO₂ emissions per mile traveled by the average passenger vehicle

4.6 metric tons 

Amount of CO₂ emissions from a typical passenger vehicle annually

Want to see how your vehicle stacks up? Go to fueleconomy.gov to find and compare CO₂ emission rates for specific vehicle models. 

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency