Automobiles, trucks, buses, diesel trains, ships, and other modes of transportation propelled by internal combustion engines release huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere every day. They also spew pollutants that contribute to lung cancer and other illnesses, cause lethal traffic accidents, and require road space that could be used for ecosystems or other spaces. Walking or biking are smart alternatives that avoid all of these things when time, distance, and weather allow. 

However, for people with mobility limitations or who need to travel quickly or far, and to transport large deliveries, self-propulsion might not be an option. In these cases, electric engines are a cleaner alternative to vehicles with internal combustion engines. They don’t directly burn fossil fuels, so they don’t produce greenhouse gas emissions from their exhausts. If they run off electricity that has been generated using clean energy, these engines haven’t produced greenhouse gas emissions at all. 

Air travel is more challenging to decarbonise than land-based vehicles, because they need a greater amount of power and often cover bigger distances. Researchers are exploring options such as hydrogen or biofuels, but these are not yet available at commercial scale. 

To activate this Global Project, at least one player must have no Transportation Emission tokens left on their player board.

Once active: Once per round, any player may increase their Energy Demand by 1 to remove 1 Transportation Emission token from their board.

• Electric Cars (Project Drawdown)

• Electric Trains (Project Drawdown)

• Electric Bicycles (Project Drawdown) 

• Transportation Solutions (Project Drawdown)

• Phase-out of Fossil Fuel Vehicles (Wikipedia)

• Internal Combustion Engine Phase-outs (International Council on Clean Transportation)

• Walk or bike to your destination whenever possible, and take holidays by train, public transport or car if necessary.

• Make your next car or truck electric, whether renting, buying, or leasing.

• Ask your local politicians, community leaders and energy companies to install electric vehicle charging stations in your local area, or bike lanes, pedestrian routes and bike sheds that make walking and biking more accessible.