Drive Slower to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Time for Prayerful Action on Climate as never before:
This summer, Europe went from experiencing pleasant sunny weather to facing dangerous levels of heat. The resolution of the Lambeth Conference of 2015 on Climate Change still challenges us all to, ‘redouble our efforts to reduce emissions that result from our own institutional and individual activities’. Year on year, extremes of weather are breaking records. The youngest, the elderly and the most vulnerable members of society suffer most in the face of high temperatures. It is time to act to reduce CO2 emissions as never before.
Creation Time:
In 2007, representatives of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and other Protestant Churches resolved to ‘reverse our contribution to climate change’, and designated ‘Creation Time’ between 1st September and 4th October (St Francis’ Day). Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have created online resources to assist individuals and parishes to take action on climate change.
What One Person is doing to play her part:
Jane Jackson in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, was so concerned about climate change that she went back to college to undertake a thesis about emission reduction measures. Speaking on East Coast Radio recently, Jane said, ‘one such measure is to drive more responsibly. It struck me that cutting speed would be a very fair and painless way for big emitters to cut down. Fossil fuel engines are all big emitters. Anyway, when I finished my studies I thought I would see how a bottom up approach would work’. Jane now campaigns to invite drivers to sign up on line and commit to keep their speed at less that 80kph, see www.80max.ie, or email: [email protected].
Speed matters:
The journal, ‘Science Direct’ surveyed road speeds on UK roads and measured associated CO2 emissions. In summary, the study found that, ‘as vehicles travel faster, the energy required to overcome aerodynamic drag increases approximately exponentially, and becomes the dominant term in total fuel use’. In another survey, Matthijs Otten and Huib van Essen found that reducing speed from 120 to 80 km/hr gives a 30% reduction in emissions on average. However, the smaller the car engine, the greater the percentage CO2 reduction. Also, the US Dept of Energy found tyre pressure to be a factor in emissions saying that, ‘for every 1-psi drop in pressure, the gas mileage disimproves by 0.4%
Speed and Inner Peace:
The Bible may have a message for our approach to driving in Ecclesiastes 4:6, ‘Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind.’ Likewise, St Francis de Sales, (1567 – 1622), who was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Geneva, said, ‘Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.’ It has been said that Christians worship a ‘3 km/hr God’. Jesus exercised a walking ministry. His way of life alone might suggest that leaving more time for each journey is a good idea all round.
