How Globalization Affects Increasing CO2 Outputs Worldwide

Globalization has statistically showed to heed both positive and negative results around the world. Globalization, essentially a more lavish term for Westernization or Industrialization, has brought the energy-consuming habits of the West to developing countries such as China and India. As globalization brings the developed and developing nations closer everyday, the technological gap that had existed for decades between the two sectors is also closing in. From 1850 to 2000, the United States was responsible for nearly 30 percent of worldwide carbon emissions. The European Union was responsible for another 27 percent. On the other side of the spectrum, China accounted for a mere 7.3 percent while India was responsible for only 2 percent. Mind you, these are statistics from before the new millennium; globalization saw its climax after the time period. As China, India, Brazil, and other populous, developing countries are getting its real dibs of cars for the first time, the worldwide CO2 emission output levels are ascending at the rapid pace alike that of globalization.

Adopted on December 11, 1997 and officially put into force on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases in an effort to prevent climate change. As of May 2008, 182 nations have ratified the protocol. The intriguing thing to note is that the United States has not. Also, countries classified as 'developing' by the UN such as China and India are not obligated to cap their emission standards. The progress of many countries that have ratified it are also not progressing well in meeting the goals. For example, Canada's goal is to cut emission output by 6 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. As of 2005, it recorded a 20 percent increase in emission output from 1990 levels. Other countries such as Japan have recorded increases instead of the intended decreases. In retrospect, the Kyoto Protocol has not progressed well so far and globalization is the only valid reason for this growing phase of global warming.

Pictured: 2008 Tata Nano - The 1-lakh ($2500) car by Tata that will cater to millions of families in India who traveled around in motorcycles, rickshaws, and scooters. Ratan Tata, the CEO of Tata, dubs this "The People's Car." While this car will significantly ameliorate the lifestyle of many Indian people, it is also frowned upon by many as it will drastically raise the number of cars on Indian roads and the overall emission output India produces.

Video: Tom Hanks Describes Electric & Hybrid Cars on Letterman

Posted about two years ago, this is Tom Hanks on the David Letterman Show talking comically about full-electric and hybrid cars. Hanks himself owns a Toyota Prius Hybrid and a Toyota RAV4 EV Electric Car. He is an advocate of electric vehicles and here, he explains the advantages of owning one yourself.

TGW's Stash of Recommended Stuff to Check Out

Here's a list of links for you to visit to be informed more about the significance of automobiles in climate change, and how you can be a part of the global mission to fend off them as one of the leading causes of the natural phenomenon:

AutoblogGreen: The green counterpart of the most visited automotive blog in the world - Autoblog - AutoblogGreen is a daily automotive news/information blog on anything related to hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles. Writers also periodically do test drives of green cars, giving readers an insight into what it feels like to own the car themselves.

Green Car Congress: This is the website for all the latest news and information about alternative fuel cars. It is one of the most visited websites regarding this topic in the world, and it aims for sustainable mobility throughout the world.

Who Killed the Electric Car?: This world renowned, award winning film has generated enormous interest in electric cars and its significance to combating global warming. It focuses on General Motor's abrupt decision to discontinue and remove nearly all of its EV1 plug-in electric cars from the streets. It provides a stark contrast of how important electric cars were classified by automobile companies (particularly General Motors) in the 1990's and today.

TreeHugger.com: Branched under AOL's giant Weblogs group of blogs, TreeHugger is a daily blog targeted at those living the green life and those concerned about the issue of climate change. It gives you tips on how to live the green way and the latest news concerning environmental issues around the world.

Article Response: More Car Emissions Information Needed (News Shopper)

Article: CAR dealers and manufacturers must do more to publicise their vehicles' carbon emissions, an organisation says. Independent environmental organisation the Energy Saving Trust made the call after research showed most drivers are unaware of how much CO2 their vehicles produce. Of 1,511 drivers questioned by the organisation, 1,118 did not know the level of their emissions but when buying a car, 1,345 wanted environmental features brought to their attention. The trust claims that choosing a greener car could save drivers £375 a year in fuel costs while cutting down on environmental damage. Trust chief executive Philip Sellwood said: "There is no good reason why at a time of rising fuel prices and higher vehicle excise duties for higher CO2 vehicles, people are continuing to buy inefficient cars. "More still needs to be done to help educate drivers earlier on in the decision making process."

As the awareness for climate change continuously increases, so does the importance of a car's emission output when purchasing a vehicle. I definitely agree with the Energy Saving Trust's call upon car dealers and manufacturers to publicize the emission output of cars sold. In the study conducted by the organization, approximately two-thirds of the people were not oblivious to the amount of carbon dioxide their car emits. Back in the days, people purchased the car with the highest horsepower rating out of the selection. As of now, however, it seems to be the race to see who achieves the highest mileage ratings.

Ford's Top 10 Fuel Saving Tips

Ford is not exactly the brand that pops up when the talks of fuel-efficient cars come in. Its best selling automobile is the Ford F-Series pickup truck, and it achieves an estimated 14MPG according to the EPA. Regardless, Ford Motor Company has issued a press release containing ten fuel saving tips for drivers. Here's the important excerpt from the official statement:

1. Slow down and watch speed -- Drive 55 miles per hour instead of 65 to
save fuel. EPA estimates a 10-15 percent improvement in fuel economy
by following this tip. Also, aim for a constant speed. Pumping the
accelerator sends more fuel into the engine. Using cruise control
whenever possible on the highway helps maintain speeds and conserve
fuel.

2. Accelerate and brake smoothly -- Accelerating smoothly from a stop and
braking softly conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of
traffic and hard braking wastes fuel and wears out some of the car
components, such as brakes and tires, more quickly. Maintain a safe
distance between vehicles and anticipate traffic conditions to allow
for more time to brake and accelerate gradually.

3. No idling -- Today's engines don't need a warm up. Start the car
immediately and gently drive away. Don't leave your car idling.
Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine
off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up
windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.

4. Check your tires -- Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended
tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use
by 3-4 percent. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and
reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the
vehicle's door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.

5. Be kind to your vehicle -- Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep
vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that
are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as
recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the
vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the
Owner's Manual for proper maintenance.

6. Travel light -- Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The
added frontal area reduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy,
reducing it by as much as 5 percent. Remove excess weight from the
vehicle. Unnecessary weight, such as unneeded items in the trunk,
makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.

7. Minimize use of heater and air conditioning -- Use heating and air
conditioning selectively to reduce the load on the engine. Decreasing
your usage of the air conditioner when temperatures are above 80
degrees can help you save 10-15 percent of fuel. Use the vent setting
as much as possible. Park in the shade to keep car cool and reduce
the need for air conditioning.

8. Close windows at high speeds -- Don't drive with the windows open
unless your keep your speed under 50 mph. Driving with the windows
open at highways speeds increases aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and
lowers fuel economy.

9. Choose the right oil -- Use good quality, energy-conserving EC oils
with the viscosity grade recommended in the Owner's Manual. Look for
cans marked with the symbol ECII, which is the American Society of
Testing Materials logo for fuel-efficient oils.

10. Consolidate trips -- Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will
enable you to bypass congested routes, lead to less idling, fewer
start-ups and less stop-and-go traffic. Whenever feasible, share a
ride and/or carpool.

David Letterman's Top Five List of Things You Can Do

Here's a comprehensive list of the five things that you can do to do your part in this worldwide mission to combat climate change. Mind you, Letterman drives a Chevrolet Corvette and Hummer H2 - regarded as demons in carbon emission output and fuel consumption.

5: Drive slower/nag your parents to drive slower. The statistics prove it works.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), driving 55 MPH instead of 65 MPH in interstates results in a 10-15 percent in fuel economy. Less fuel usage, obviously, equates to less emissions.

4: Ditch your SUVs and pickup trucks for compact, fuel-efficient cars (if the Hybrid way is not your way).

For the first time since 1991, the best-selling automobile in the United States in 2008 so far is not a pickup or a SUV. In fact, it is the Honda Civic - a compact, fuel-efficient car. The Ford F-Series, the long-time crown in U.S. auto sales was ranked down to fifth place as other compact and mid-size cars trumped it. If the others are doing it, you (I'm pointing to the owners of gas-guzzling cars/trucks) should do it too to do your part in alleviating climate change. As hybrid cars are still priced higher than conventional gasoline cars, there are many who refuse to pay the green premium. In that case, compact, fuel-efficient cars are the next best types of cars (e.g. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, etc.) as they are both cheap, and average north of 30 MPG.

3: Carpool with your mates/colleagues/neighbours/miscellaneous people.

Similar to the concept of taking the public transit, carpooling with other people to reach destinations is a great way to conserve fuel and lessen the overall carbon emission output one is responsible for. Calculating basic math principles, obscenely less emission is produced when one car carries five passengers versus five individual cars carrying one person each. You can carpool with your friends to travel to common destinations such as school, theatre, or a soccer field to play in a tournament. The same can be done with your colleagues, neighbours, or even people that you are not acquainted with. For the last example, carpooling with people you don't know is feasible as there are many local programs that hook up people from a certain neighbourhood to carpool together.

2: Take the public transportation (e.g. bus, subway, light-rail tram, etc.) to move around, especially in urban metropolitan areas.

Applying to people living in cities or towns with a public transportation system, take advantage of it next time you want to travel within the region. Sans the pride of owning a private car and a couple of trite luxuries, using the public transit is the most efficient way to travel from point A to point B.

And drum roll please...

1: Purchase a fuel-efficient hybrid-electric car / lobby your parents to consider one for the next purchase.

Hybrid cars emit significantly less carbon emissions than conventional fully gasoline powered cars. The average mileage a car in America achieves is 19 MPG (miles per gallon). On the other hand, the average mileage a hybrid car offered in America achieves is 37 MPG. The cost of hybrid cars is plunging by the years, and the cheapest hybrid-electric car currently offered in America is the Honda Civic Hybrid - priced from $22,600 and achieves 41 MPG.

A Current Look At How Cars Impact the Environment & How Globalization Ties In

Automobiles make up for a significant portion of the greenhouse gases that are sent to our atmosphere. Let's look at the United States as an example of how automobiles are fueling the rapid pace of climate change. American cars and trucks account for more than 50 percent of all the greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles in the world. Americans own only 30 percent of the 700 million automobiles registered in the world, yet this disproportionate ratio remains. The U.S. is an example of how an economic superpower falls behind many countries in terms of its environmental impact to the world.

Globalization plays a substantial role in developing, manufacturing, trading, and selling automobiles across the world. It has opened up new markets for automakers to sell cars that inevitably spew harmful greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. While the United States already has unfortunate results of its contribution to this problem, the issue will only worsen and accelerate if no action is taken to alleviate it. This is because globalization allows cars to be accessed and privately purchased by people from countries that have its first dibs of this transportation revolution. Countries with immense populations such as China (1.4 billion) and India (1.1 billion) are examples of countries that have recently embraced automobiles, mainly due to globalization. In 2007, China exceeded the U.S. in greenhouse gas output, and the automobile per capita ratio is still way below many other nations. The number of cars sold in India is also rising rapidly and the statistics are most likely to see a jump with the introduction of the $2500 Tata Nano - dubbed the People's Car, as many who have ridden scooters and motorcycles will finally be able to afford a car. These two nations are just a handful of examples of how globalization increases demand for cars and continuously damages our environment.

Welcome to The Globalizing World

The Globalizing World is the ideal website for all your information on the environmental issues that have sprouted from globalization - the single largest political and social metamorphosis of the 21st century. More specifically, this website is the source of environmental issues that have been triggered by automobiles, and how you can be a part of the worldwide mission to move from point A to point B without leaving a negative footprint into our environment.

The production of fuel consuming automobiles has been rampant in the recent years, as globalization has opened up new, emerging markets for automakers to venture in - both for manufacturing and selling. Thus, the number of emission-spewing cars and trucks has ascended drastically in the time period, and has soared the threat of climate change to an even higher degree.

Climate change - fueled by increasing greenhouse gases, in which automobile emissions have been tagged as the culprits - is the leading subject of discussion throughout both worldwide meetings such as in the United Nations, and the public where the conversations regarding this grave topic have increased awareness for it. As concerns are rising about climate change, The Globalizing World is the information hub of how globalization ties into the topic and what you can do to leave a positive footprint into our society and generations to follow.