Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Government, oil companies, and consumers must all bear a share of the burden if air pollution in China is going to be effectively tackled.
Seventy percent of the oil America uses each year is consumed by transportation. Any effective strategy to meet U.S. and global climate protection goals therefore requires that oil consumption in the transport sector be significantly reduced.
China’s current transportation development plans call for huge numbers of new airports, but building them looks to be untenable, both economically and environmentally.
Transportation energy taxes, when applied along the supply chain, can better allocate the costs of burning fuels, encourage efficiency, raise money for the U.S. transportation system, and help the planet.
Beijing's new fuel emission standards make the city a leader in improving China's air quality.
Global urbanization is inextricably linked with energy consumption. Smarter urban planning and transportation can reduce energy consumption and lower the demand for carbon intensive unconventional oils.
Lighter cars, more efficient electricity use, and better integrated smart grids can all help to dramatically reduce global reliance on fossil fuels and demand nothing in the way of intervention on new regulation.
The United States should consider exchanging the current federal gas tax for a 6 percent oil-security fee to fully fund the country's national infrastructure program.
Congress should reassess the national transportation program to support innovative transportation projects on a local level.
The European Union should adopt fuel economy standards for trucks and other heavy vehicles, which would both increase energy independence and reduce carbon emissions.