Energy Production and Transportation
The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024
In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.
Let’s consider the climate impact of rideshare services. I was on a business trip this week and from my hotel it was a five minute walk on city streets to reach the conference center where my meeting was being held. On the second day, when the day was done, I walked out to wind and heavy rain. I paused for a second and then reached for my phone and arranged for an Uber in order to stay dry on my way to the hotel. Don’t judge me.
When you use a rideshare app, you are often presented with choices on which type of ride you prefer. I typically use Uber, so I will use it as an example. One of the choices I have never explored is UberX Share, where you “save up to 20% when matched with another rider along your route.” In some places you can choose Uber Green which guarantees a pickup in a hybrid or fully electric vehicle. I chose this on my trip and for just a few dollars more, I was driven to my destination in a Tesla.
We are deep into examining the climate impacts of our routine, daily choices. As Heidi points out “reducing the number of individual car trips we make can have a real impact”. Like using public transportation, increasing society’s embrace of carpooling is important for climate mitigation, according to Project Drawdown. In 2018 the average occupancy per vehicle was estimated to be 1.57. All things being equal, moving to 2.0 occupants per vehicle on average is estimated to offset 7.7 gigatons of emitted greenhouse gases by 2050. A big impact.
“…hopping in an Uber or Lyft by yourself and calling it a win for climate won’t cut it.”
Heidi Roop
The rise of the prevalence of rideshare services likely has had a positive impact on society, including allowing marginalized populations more transportation options, and providing employment for drivers. However, the wide spread use of these services has the real potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions, and cause other issues like increased vehicle congestion (compared to the use of public transportation).
Overall, our individual action should focus on increasing the average number of occupants per vehicle in any way that makes sense to you and your family. Prudently using your rideshare app, especially the sharing options, is a choice you can make. Project Drawdown has some other suggestions for what you can do, including cultivating a community of friends and neighbors who coordinate rides to mutual destinations, or working with your employer or school to expand the use of carpools.
As electric vehicles become more prevalent, the potential negative impact of these services is reduced [stay tuned for tomorrow’s post about electric vehicles]. And maybe next time, if an EV picks me up, y’all will ease up on the judging if I order an Uber rather than walk in the rain.
Bonus: Check out Project Drawdown’s Table of Solutions .
Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 12: Buy and Drive an Electric Car
Howard Creel
#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com