Effects of Transportation on the Ecosystem

摘要

Transportation of goods and people affects the ecosystem in six ways: (1) obtaining the raw materials for the infrastructure and the vehicles, (2) providing the power for motivating the vehicles, (3) appropriating land for the infrastructure, (4) constructing the infrastructure and manufacturing the vehicles, (5) using the vehicles, and (6) disposing of the infrastructure and vehicles. In most parts of the world, (2) and (5) are of main concern, and thus these are focused upon here. The main problem is combustion of fossil fuels. And, as the world continues its trends toward more people and greater affluence, the problem could increase... catastrophically some warn. However, current and foreseeable future technologies should be quite capable of ameliorating or eliminating most concerns about transportation, and some of these will be discussed. The ultimate factors, though, are likely to be economic and political.