Take a Hummer for an example according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it gets an estimated 13 city and 18 highway miles per gallon (MPG) (HUMMER, Hummer). These cars emit emissions that damage the ozone layer and use up fossil fuels such as oil. Since we as a country use so much oil we need to import and as a result we are dependent on other countries. We weaken our economy by creating an imbalance in imports and exports. We as a nation need to use less oil and strengthen ourselves; we can do that by enforcing a minimum MPG.
Carbon dioxide emissions are the most prevalent in fossil fuel burning. Emissions are correlated to MPG, lower MPG equals higher emissions. The United States is tenth per capita in emissions but is the single largest emitter of Carbon dioxide (Millennium Indicators, United Nations 2007). In fact, in 2006, the United States emitted an estimated 2575 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from oil related use (Eia.doe.gov, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions). These emissions pollute the air in addition to contributing to the greenhouse effect that leads to global warming.
The United States is a gas hog; we use 3700 gallons of gas a second! In the U.S. cars use 40% of the oil. By setting a standard fuel economy we could drastically reduce use. For example, A 40 mpg standard by 2012 could reduce oil usage by 50 billion barrels (2.1 trillion gallons). Legislation to this degree is not currently in effect but there has been a bill passed for 2020 for 35 MPG. The 40 MPG standard could save money as well for a total of $3000-$5000 dollars per car at the pump. Other methods are possible to decrease oil usage such as E85 (ethanol-oil mix) and hydrogen fuel cells that have zero emissions and use little gasoline. Other possibilities are electric cars as well as hybrids (Beyond Oil, NRDC).
There are 15 million barrels being used a day in the U.S. and 9 million of those are being imported. Every year that's 115 billion dollars flowing out of the country. The trade deficit (the difference in values of imports and exports) weakens the dollar and about a third of the trade deficit is from oil. (OIL!, Dr James B. Calvert) If we import over half of our oil just one supplier could make gas prices skyrocket. For example, Hugo Chavez the president of Venezuela threatened to stop exports of oil if the U.S. perused military action in Iran. Venezuela exports 3.2 million barrels to the U.S. a day, and if they stopped the prices could rise $200 dollars a barrel or about $4 a gallon (Chavez renews attacks, 2007) If we decrease our gas usage we will have a better economy and decrease our risk.
In a survey conducted by Pew Research of a 1000 only 19 percent of the participants favored a bill that had lower MPG standards. Few oppose lower standards and the ones that do have poor support and little evidence. In an editorial from MSNBC that was against high standards: “I choose to pay to fill my gas guzzling SUV because I like it and enjoy driving it” (I love my SUV despite its MPG, Colin Hurlock). If all that matters is choice our world would be a mess. We can't do it with anything else so why do it to the environment?
How can this problem be combated? There are many solutions, if you are in the position buy a fuel efficient car or a car that runs on E85 or possibly a hybrid. If you are not in that position contact your congressperson and demand higher standards. Most importantly, you can send your thoughts to companies that don't have fuel efficient cars because they know who buys their cars; the people.
