World Car Free Day - statistics & facts
Greenhouse gas emissions, toxic air pollution, traffic congestion, noise: these are just some of the negative impacts associated with automobiles. But while cars currently rule the roads, drivers around the world are encouraged to ditch their automobiles every year on September 22 to celebrate World Car-Free Day. Observed in towns and cities across the globe, this annual event is aimed at raising awareness about the impacts of cars while promoting healthier and more sustainable alternatives like walking, cycling, and the use of public transportation.
It’s not just the climate that cars are affecting. Automobiles also worsen air quality, with vehicle exhaust responsible for large releases of toxic air pollutants like nitrogen oxide and PM2.5, both of which are harmful to human health and linked to millions of deaths worldwide. People living in large urban centers are particularly exposed to these hazardous pollutants, with children especially vulnerable. These burdens are further aggravated by traffic jams, which have become a persistent problem in populated cities as the number of vehicles on the roads has risen.
Many cities around the world are now trying to reduce car numbers, whether by increasing cycling lanes, creating car-free zones, or introducing limited traffic zones, congestion charges, and low emissions zones. The latter scheme has had notable success; in London, for example, Ultra Low Emission Zones have reduced traffic flows, which in turn has helped cut roadside NO₂ concentrations in central London in half since 2019. Meanwhile, cities including Milan and Paris are aiming to fully ban cars from entering city centers in a bid to address traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Globally, there is clear progress being made to deter automobiles from populated areas and promote alternatives, thereby giving urban spaces back to people.
The downside of automobiles
Many towns and cities today are built around the use of cars, often leaving little space for pedestrians. But the prioritization of cars by city planners has numerous negative impacts on the environment and human health. Despite the significant growth in global electric vehicle sales in recent years, the majority of cars on the road today still have internal combustion engines that pump out roughly 3.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) into the atmosphere each year. This not only accounts for half of global transportation CO₂ emissions, but also represents around 10 percent of total global fossil CO₂ emissions.It’s not just the climate that cars are affecting. Automobiles also worsen air quality, with vehicle exhaust responsible for large releases of toxic air pollutants like nitrogen oxide and PM2.5, both of which are harmful to human health and linked to millions of deaths worldwide. People living in large urban centers are particularly exposed to these hazardous pollutants, with children especially vulnerable. These burdens are further aggravated by traffic jams, which have become a persistent problem in populated cities as the number of vehicles on the roads has risen.
Benefits of World Car-Free Day
World Car Free Day is a way to alleviate many of the issues associated with cars, and show what urban environments with reduced car numbers and congestion can be like. With pedestrians able to retake the streets, events such as street parties and cycling races are organized in cities that are typically overrun with cars. Fewer vehicles on the road also means people are less exposed to air pollution. This was perhaps best exemplified during the outbreak of COVID-19, when lockdowns caused traffic levels to plummet, thereby reducing levels of harmful air pollutants like NO₂ in major global metropolises.Many cities around the world are now trying to reduce car numbers, whether by increasing cycling lanes, creating car-free zones, or introducing limited traffic zones, congestion charges, and low emissions zones. The latter scheme has had notable success; in London, for example, Ultra Low Emission Zones have reduced traffic flows, which in turn has helped cut roadside NO₂ concentrations in central London in half since 2019. Meanwhile, cities including Milan and Paris are aiming to fully ban cars from entering city centers in a bid to address traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Globally, there is clear progress being made to deter automobiles from populated areas and promote alternatives, thereby giving urban spaces back to people.
