India has some of the most polluted cities in the world and one major contributor to its air pollution problem is toxic vehicle exhaust fumes. The staggering pace of motorization has compounded the country’s air quality woes. It’s time to take matters into our own hands by being responsible citizens and drivers. While many of us have already started to cut down on common pollutants such as plastic, and place more emphasis on recycling, we can all do our bit to help our fuel emissions too.
Why go greener?
Emissions from fuel combustion make the transport sector the third most CO2 emitting sector in India. Of that, road transport contributed more than 90% of total CO2 emissions. Indians are using more and more vehicles, which is having a decremental effect on our quality of air. According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) titled ‘At The Crossroads’, the number of registered vehicles went up 700 times from the 1950s to 2015. While cars registered between 1951 and 2005 were 10.3 million, 20 million were registered in just ten years between 2006 and 2015! A report by the same organization revealed that air pollution is causing deadly diseases and has brought India’s life expectancy down by 2.6 years.
Easy ways to be a greener diver
In order to reign in this toxic spiral, we need to make changes now. A few conscientious actions while driving can make your journeys lighter on the planet and your pocket. Here are some simple ways to get into the habit of driving in an eco-friendly way.
While there is a huge need to make our transportation choices environmentally sound, safety is also of utmost importance when we plan our daily commute. As a car owner, it’s imperative to invest in good car insurance and make sure it is valid so that you are protected financially in case of an accident.
