Green Six Sigma

Chapter 9Green Six Sigma and Green Transport

‘Global warming is causing the loss of living species at a level comparable to the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.’

– Al Gore

9.1. Introduction

The various forms of transport that we use daily contribute only 14% of the total global greenhouse gas transmissions (emissions?). Thus, this sector ranks fourth behind energy, land and industry. However, if you were to ask a random person which activities pollute most, he or she probably would say burning coal for energy, driving cars and travelling by plane. Although transportation is not the biggest cause of emissions worldwide it is high on the list in the USA and Europe, where people drive and fly a great deal. In 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic led to a sudden and drastic reduction in transport activities, it was noticeable that carbon dioxide transmissions also fell by 2.4%.

If we are going to attain net-zero emissions we will have to minimise all the greenhouse gases caused by transportation around the world.

9.2. Guiding Factors of Clean Transports

We cannot leave without transport, unless we plan to go everywhere on foot. Even if we reduce our non-essential travel we will still need transportation by land, sea or air to move goods for our survival. Farmers need to get their crops to the market. The benefits of globalisation cannot be realised without the movement of goods and people, both between nations and within countries. Therefore, ...