Climate change is probably the biggest issue facing modern industrialised society at this moment.  Even in tough economic times like these, the possible effects of climate change dwarf any other issues.  The big governments of the world finally seem to be initiating policy which attempts to address these issues, however, many more changes need to be made in order to avert any potential environmental disasters.  One of the biggest changes that needs to occur is with the fuel and transportation industries, where more money needs to be put into public transportation and research into alternate fuels for automobiles.  Simple things like making sure the trains are always running on time, and putting a coffee machine at train stations can make all the difference when trying to get people to use public transport and leave their cars at home.

The term ‘climate change’ is normally used today in the context of environmental government policy, and refers to the raising of global temperatures via the use of man made technology.  While there are a number of factors which effect the way that the planet’s climate changes over time, most of them are out of our control.  The majority consensus in the scientific world however, is that increased CO2 usage is leading to an artificial and exacerbated heating effect on the overall global climate.  The Greenhouse Effect is a situation that develops because of the inability of the Earth’s atmosphere to get rid of all of the carbon dioxide that is put into it, creating an increase in the overall temperature levels of the atmosphere.  There are a number of other human influences that have given rise to the man made climate change effect that is occurring at the moment.

While there is still some scientific debate, the overall consensus is that human activity is the likely cause of recent changes in the world climate.  While carbon dioxide use is the biggest concern, other influencing factors include aerosole usage, cement manufacture, ozone layer depletion, and deforestation.  Global warming is the term that is often used to describe the collective nature of these influences.  In order to have a positive effect on our environment and stem some of the damage that has already been done, all of these anthropological factors need to be taken into consideration.  The overuse of fossil fuels has had perhaps the biggest negative effect on the global environment, and making positive changes in the transportation industry in particular is intrinsic to the future success of any environmental policy.

Public transportation has a number of advantages over private transportation.  If governments can develop inexpensive transportation infrastructures that create a convenient public service for the wider population, people are much more likely to make changes in their lifestyle.  Simple acts like putting an espresso machine at a train station can make people more happy to use a public system, and more likely to recommend it to their friends and family.  While climate change is a big concern for us all, with some positive changes to our collective lifestyle, it is possible to make a difference and create a brighter future for everyone.