The most important message in the study presented by the University of California was that we will have to give up cars to avoid global warming.

             Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash

After months of work, the experts had concluded that people will have to give up of using cars if they want to save the planet. The report offers insight into the enormous personal, environmental, and economic sacrifices required to achieve climate goals.

At the same time, the team emphasizes that the transition to electric vehicles has three fundamental problems that will not significantly improve emissions statistics on global level.

The study states that large amounts of minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel will be needed for the production of batteries for electric vehicles.

If the current demand numbers for electric vehicles is projected to 2050, the lithium requirements just for US market will be three times bigger than currently produced for the entire global market.

It is emphasized that increased mining will irreversibly damage the nature. Mining contributes from 4% and 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions and will destroy tropical forests that currently absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere.

ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR IMPRUVING AIR QUALITY AND PREVENTING CLIMATE CHANGE 

The study is also clear about the huge demand for electricity. Electrification of the US transportation system will significantly increase the demand for electricity.

Also, the production of electric vehicles and the construction and maintenance of roads, highways and parking lots are energy-intensive processes with high levels of carbon emissions.

Finally, the study also the announces the sacrifices that people in developed countries will have to make to meet the warming limits that climate activists have been emphasizing for decades, which is to prevent the planet from reaching a temperature of more than 1,5 C° compared to pre-industrial times.

“The current dominant strategy in the automotive sector, which consists of replacing internal combustion engines with electric vehicles, but does not involve reducing car ownership and use, most likely will be incompatible with rising temperatures by the end of the century.

Instead, the Study recommends government policies that encourage walking, cycling and public transport.

So, in the near future it is suggested that we buy good sneakers, a bicycle and a bus/train ticket.