Transportation and the Environment

The issue of transportation and the environment began with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, when vehicles powered by fossil fuels were introduced. At that time, the impact of transportation equipment and infrastructure on the environment was limited. However, the rapid growth of motorization in the first half of the twentieth century led to the emergence of significant environmental problems in urban areas. These issues, which were initially confined to developed countries, became more pronounced after World War II. Air pollution caused by automobile exhaust gases led to the implementation of pollutant emission regulations in various countries and regions. However, with the expansion of the global economy, the utilization of natural resources, including fossil fuels, has increased exponentially, accompanied by a parallel surge in waste emissions. In 1972, the Club of Rome published a report titled “Limits to Growth,” [1] which warned that if population growth and environmental pollution continue unabated, growth on Earth will reach its limit within 100 years.