THE battle against climate change has gone onto the roads and highways.
Breakthroughs in battery technology have led to the development of electric cars to eliminate noxious emissions from fossil fuel use.
Electric cars are proving to be a godsend in Norway. We are told that almost half of all new passenger car sales last year were electric or hybrid vehicles.
Electric car sales in Norway reached a record high in March, with almost 60 per cent of new cars sold being fully electric, a result of state policy to exclude such vehicles from certain taxes and offer free or cheaper tolls, parking and charging points.
Aiming to end fossil fuel car sales by 2025, electric vehicles now account for 220,000 of Norway’s total fleet of 2.7 million cars. It aims to have a mostly carbon-neutral fleet on its roads by 2040.
This figure is awe-inspiring and far ahead of other countries. Neighbouring Iceland came in second at 19 per cent, while Sweden was third with eight per cent.
China, the world’s largest car market, is determined to stop the production and sale of vehicles powered by fossil fuel in the near future. India aims to make all new vehicles electric by 2030. What’s more, electric vehicles are set to get a lot cheaper with advanced technology.
Britain and France will phase out the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles over the next 20 years.
We hope Malaysia follows suit in promoting electric cars.
Sadly, though, aviation emissions have been glossed over. Aviation emissions are the worst of all transport modes. It has been stated that “if global aviation was a country, it would rank in the top 10 emitters”.
Aviation emissions are relegated to the back-burner by being excluded from the Paris accord. They are also unregulated by the international industry, allowing emissions to grow. It is a stark reality that aviation emissions are many times more warming than those from the same amount of fuel burnt on the ground.
Aircraft engines give out heat, noise, particulates and gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. We are told that “airplanes emit particles and gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, lead, and black carbon”, which greatly pollute the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, scientists have yet to invent any emission-free technology to curb this menace.
It is hoped that G20 nations will put the bugbear of aviation emissions under the microscope and tackle this critical issue to combat climate change.
Dr A. Soorian
Seremban, Negri Sembilan