Whenever we hit the road in our cars, we unknowingly increase our carbon footprint. But do you know the carbon emission differences between various types of vehicles? And how much carbon is emitted when the Taiwanese, who love overseas trips, fly? Let's delve deeper today.

When gasoline burns, it primarily emits carbon dioxide. It also releases water vapor, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful substances. According to the Environmental Protection Administration's carbon footprint data, each liter of gasoline used for transportation produces approximately 3.01 kg of carbon dioxide. For a car that runs 15 km per liter, this translates to 0.2 kg of CO2 per kilometer—amounting to 70 kg (or 0.07 tons) of carbon for a 350 km journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Although the technology in newer gasoline cars has improved fuel efficiency, their carbon emissions remain relatively high in heavy traffic congestion.

Diesel vehicles are generally more fuel-efficient than gasoline cars. However, the nitrogen oxides and particulates they emit can be harmful to human health. According to the Environmental Protection Administration's data, each liter of diesel used for transportation emits about 3.38 kg of carbon dioxide. Though diesel vehicles have lower fuel consumption and thus slightly lower CO2 emissions compared to gasoline cars, their environmental impact might increase when other pollutants are considered.

Electric vehicles, the current global trend, do not rely on internal combustion engines and hence have no direct exhaust emissions. However, manufacturing batteries and providing electricity for these vehicles can result in carbon emissions, especially when the primary power source is coal. Currently, in Taiwan, only about 20% of electricity comes from green sources (hydro, wind, solar, nuclear), with the rest sourced from high-carbon coal, fuel oil, or natural gas. According to Taiwan's Energy Bureau, the carbon emission coefficient for electricity in 2022 was 0.495 kg CO2 equivalent per kWh, which is relatively high compared to other countries. As renewable energy sources increase, the total carbon footprint of electric vehicles is expected to decrease over time.

Flying, an indispensable mode of transportation in modern human life, offers speed and convenience. However, it also imposes a significant carbon footprint on the planet. The aviation fuel on which airplanes rely produces a substantial amount of carbon dioxide when burned—approximately 2.19 kg per liter. More challenging is that most of these emissions occur in the higher layers of the atmosphere, where gases contribute to ozone formation, exacerbating global warming.

Moreover, due to globalization and the popularity of travel, flight frequencies are rapidly increasing, leading to consistently high carbon emissions from the aviation sector. For instance, for Taiwanese who love to travel to Japan, a round trip in economy class produces about 0.35 tons of carbon. For intercontinental long-haul flights, like from Taipei to Vancouver, a round trip in economy class emits up to 1.15 tons.

Although the carbon footprint of airplane manufacturing and maintenance is relatively small, it still poses a significant challenge globally. Most aviation fuel is still based on non-renewable petroleum, intensifying environmental challenges. Given the necessity of flights for long-distance travel, finding alternatives is challenging. Thus, there's an urgent need to expedite the research and development of greener aviation technologies and fuels to alleviate the burden of flights on our planet.

Knowing the carbon emissions of the above transportation modes, what can we do to reduce our carbon footprint? We should raise awareness about reducing carbon and take action, such as opting for public transportation instead of driving.

Public transportation, like subways, buses, and trains, not only plays a crucial role in urban life but is also a green option with many advantages. Firstly, choosing public transportation can significantly reduce one's carbon footprint. When more people opt for public transport over driving their vehicles, we can cut down a considerable amount of carbon emissions, helping mitigate global warming. Moreover, public transportation reduces the number of vehicles on the road, easing traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, and conserving fuel.

Here's a list of the carbon emissions per kilometer for various transportation modes:

• Private passenger car: 0.115 kgCO2e / km
• Taxi: 0.133 kgCO2e / km
• Motorcycle: 0.0951 kgCO2e / km
• High-speed rail: 0.032 kgCO2e / km
• Taiwan Railways: 0.06 kgCO2e / km
• Bus: 0.04 kgCO2e / km
• Metro: 0.04 kgCO2e / km

Using the journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung as an example again, driving would result in 70 kg of carbon emissions. In contrast, taking the high-speed rail, with a carbon footprint of 10.88 kg for a trip from Taipei to Zuoying, would cut emissions by nearly 80%. So, in daily life, opting for transportation modes with lower carbon emissions can significantly reduce one's carbon footprint, helping protect our planet.

After actively reducing our carbon footprint, there still exists an inevitable environmental impact from our daily lives. At this point, we can purchase carbon credits to offset these emissions, neutralizing our remaining carbon footprint. Opting for high-quality carbon credit products offered by Carbonluck not only promotes environmental conservation and offsets carbon emissions but also helps achieve many of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), aiding numerous individuals around the globe in need. Let's unite in our efforts for a better planet, choose eco-friendly modes of transportation, and support carbon offset projects.