5 Transportation and the Environment

Canada's Climate Change Action Plan is targetting vehicles and fuels that produce fewer emissions, increasing the use of alternative modes of transportation for passenger travel, and improving the efficiency of the transportation of goods.

The transportation sector has both positive and negative impacts on modern society. The challenge transportation faces is to increase mobility while minimizing the negative effects on the environment. Such environmental effects include climate change, smog and acid rain.

This chapter first examines the trends and pressure points facing the transportation sector and explores them in more detail in relation to the issues of climate change, including actions proposed by all levels of government to address gas emissions from transportation.

Environmental Impacts of Transportation