DOT Secretary Urges Communities Built On Walking, Public Transport
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Tuesday called for fighting global warming by developing communities that are closer to public transportation or within walking distance of goods and services.
"Our work will not be easy, but it offers great promise for improving the lives of all Americans and reducing our use of energy and greenhouse gas emissions," LaHood said in testimony before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Transportation accounts for almost 30% of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama took a step to reducing tailpipe emissions by increasing mileage standards to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, four years earlier than required by law. The nationwide fuel-economy standards would be phased in beginning in 2012.
That approach may have its limits.
"Even if vehicle fuel efficiency were to reach 55 miles per gallon by 2030, we would still see only modest decreases in transportation CO2 emissions without a decrease in vehicle miles traveled," LaHood said.
-By Siobhan Hughes, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6654; Siobhan.Hughes@dowjones.com
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Publié le 14 Juillet 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones
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