«Driving 250m by car = 1kg of glacier ice melts»
Derivation
Question: How is the equation «Driving 250m by car = 1kg of glacier ice melts» derived?
Answer:
The comparison is based on the model study by Marzeion et al. (2018), according to which one kilogram of CO2 is responsible for the melting of around 15 kilograms of glacier ice (including committed ice loss).
The 250 meters are the result of converting the consumption of a mid-range petrol engine (MyClimate, including grey energy) to one kilogram of ice.
A few examples
Assuming that the model study and the tools from myClimate and the SBB environmental calculator provide correct results, the CO2 emissions below are calculated for various routes and motorized modes of transport. The release of CO2 is calculated uniformly per person.
1) Berne - Zurich, Arrival
Road distance: 120km
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 0.9 | 8900 |
Car with electric drive
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 18.6 | 430 |
| 2 | 9.4 | 851 |
| 3 | 6.3 | 1270 |
| 4 | 4.7 | 1700 |
| 5 | 3.8 | 2105 |
Car with combustion engine (diesel)
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 33.1 | 240 |
| 2 | 16.5 | 480 |
| 3 | 11.0 | 725 |
| 4 | 8.3 | 960 |
| 5 | 6.6 | 1210 |
Source: SBB environmental calculator. Status: 6.4.2024
2) Visp - Simplonpass, Arrival
Strecke Strasse: 30km
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 2.7 | 740 |
Car with electric drive
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 5.2 | 385 |
| 2 | 2.6 | 769 |
| 3 | 1.7 | 1176 |
| 4 | 1.3 | 1538 |
| 5 | 1.0 | 2000 |
Car with combustion engine (diesel)
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 8.9 | 225 |
| 2 | 4.4 | 454 |
| 3 | 3.0 | 606 |
| 4 | 2.5 | 800 |
| 5 | 2.0 | 1000 |
Source: SBB environmental calculator. Status: 6.4.2024
3) Direktflug Zürich - New York Anreise
Strecke: ca. 6'300km
Flug mit A330
Number
of persons | kg CO2
per person | m per
kg ice |
| 1 | 1400 | 300 |
Source: myClimate calculator. Status: 6.4.2024
Conclusion
- Today, only motorized mobility, which does not take place or only takes place in thought, does not generate any CO2 emissions. The avoidance of mobility also has positive effects on various other areas such as quality of life, noise, traffic jams, particulate matter, air quality, soil sealing, etc.
- When traveling between destinations that are directly connected by rail, the train is by far the most environmentally friendly option
.
- In areas where public transport is fully or partially operated by buses and/or postal buses, electric cars with good seat occupancy are a viable alternative. Cars with combustion engines with very good seat occupancy.
- One flight a year can wipe out all personal efforts to reduce your carbon footprint in just a few hours. It makes no difference to the climate whether a flight is for business, family, vacation, science and/or any other reason.
CO2 is not only released through mobility. It is also released during many activities, e.g. at work, in everyday life, on vacation and/or during leisure time. These activities also contribute to a greater or lesser extent to the melting of glacial ice and global warming.
For a long time, glacier melt was the most visible sign of climate change. The effects can now also be felt and seen in the lowlands.