Are automobiles the number-one source of greenhouse gases?

I heard on KPFA yesterday that meat production by itself puts out more
greenhouse gases than transport (Eugene Cordero, Professor, Department
of Climatology at San Jose State).

I have heard that the EPA claims that construction, demolition and
operation of buildings accounts for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions,
although I have not been able to track down the quote from the EPA.

Clearly there are different theories on this matter.

Measure KK supporters do NOT "include only automobile drivers".
Bicycle riders were among the most enthusiastic signers of the
petition, as well as bus riders who are outraged at AC Transit's
endless reductions in service (and who think that BRT would lead to
more service cuts).

Gale



--- In berkeleygreen2008@yahoogroups.com, "Jesse" <jt02@...> wrote:
>
> Both Bob and Carole's emails just talk about AC Transit's current BRT
> proposal, but this initiative would apply to any light rail or BRT
project
> proposed in the future.
>
> The initiative would create such a large procedural roadblock (extra
cost
> plus extra delay) that it would probably stop any attempts to improve
> public
> transportation in Berkeley. Since automobiles are our number-one
> source of
> greenhouse gas emissions, it would make us much less effective in
fighting
> global warming.
>
> The initiative backers say they want a democratic vote on "major street
> changes," but the initiative would just apply to changes that provide
> alternatives to the automobile - conversion of traffic lanes to light
> rail,
> bus rapid transit or HOV lanes. It would not apply to street
widenings or
> other major street changes that increase automobile traffic.
>
> Hank is right that supporters give themselves away when they say:
"We pay
> for our streets. We should be allowed to use them." When they say "we,"
> they only include automobile drivers - not bus riders. Yet with BRT,
> there
> will be more people riding the bus than driving on Telegraph.
>
> Imagine an initiative on the state ballot that required a popular vote
> before any solar or wind power plants could be built in California - but
> that didn't require a vote before nuclear or coal power plants were
built.
> I don't think any environmentalist would back that on the grounds
that "we
> Greens believe in grassroots democracy."
>
> Measure KK has exactly this sort of anti-environment bias, requiring a
> vote
> to create bus or light rail lanes - but not to create added traffic
lanes,
> massive parking structures, or other changes that promote more
automobile
> use.
>
> Chuck Siegel
>