Reducing car and truck carbon emissions difficult but feasible

A new study from current and former researchers at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs finds that reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation will be a much bigger challenge than conventional wisdom assumes – requiring substantially higher fuel prices combined with more stringent regulation.

The study finds that reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the transportation sector 14% below 2005 levels by 2020 may require gas prices greater than $7/gallon by 2020 and $8/gallon by 2030. It also finds that, while relying on subsidies for electric or hybrid vehicles is politically seductive, it is extremely expensive and an ineffective way to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term.

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