Critical Times

Earth Hour means we switch off our power for one hour, feel good, and then drive our SUVs (sales up 4.6%, November 2007) at 110 kph instead of 90kph when doing so would reduce fuel consumption by 25% and CO2 emissions by 2.4kg/litre of fuel. Drivers pump out 76 million tonnes of Australia’s total net greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., 13.5%), but we drive fast and keep our engines running even when stationary.

The 1973 Arab-Israeli war caused the US Congress to impose a nationwide 55 mph (89 kph) speed limit — it was estimated that a speed of 55 mph used 17% less fuel per mile than a speed of 75 mph. Now that we have a global climate emergency, when will the Rudd government follow suite and restrict maximum speed to 90 kph? We have learnt to enjoy slow food so why can’t we learn to enjoy slow travel and do something really significant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our reliance on oil?

Gareth Smith