Greenhouse Gas Action Plan for the Transportation Sector in Iowa

Richard A. Ney
Jerald L. Schnoor
Norman S.J. Foster
David J. Forkenbrock
1997

It has become widely recognized that greenhouse gases, whether natural or generated by activities on earth, lead to warming of the earth-atmosphere system. Such warming has the potential to influence meteorological phenomena such as droughts and floods, sea levels, and regional air temperatures.

While the implications and potential magnitude of global warming continue to be debated, public policymakers are searching for practical means to reduce the levels of greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Because carbon dioxide is the largest human-induced form of greenhouse gas, it is receiving the most attention.

The purpose of this research has been to identify ways in which the state of Iowa can do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation sector. Because Iowa has the 15th highest level of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, a real need exists for these emissions to be reduced.

A variety of strategies and policy actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Iowa are explored in this report. Some of these actions would be relatively easy to implement, while others would require significant changes in how people live and travel. Our objective is to foster discussion of ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not to narrow the acceptable methods too quickly.

Our work on this research effort has been conducted in tandem with a larger study to develop a greenhouse gas action plan for Iowa. The resulting plan suggests actions that could be taken in other sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among the actions examined are those pertaining to agriculture, utilities, industry, and residences.

Research for this project was carried out jointly by the Public Policy Center and the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, both at the University of Iowa. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program, with supplemental funding contributed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

$9.95, 40 pp., 14 figures, saddle stitched
ISBN 0-87414-142-7