Transportation developments could enhance the spread of innovations, but probably become one of the causes of global warming.
To begin with, the improvement in transportation technology can benefit the distribution of ideas. One of the transport breakthroughs was the invention of containers, metallic boxes for large-scale goods. The standardized sizes of containers could enable transportation of huge products. For instance, Japan started to export cars globally, which were made of carbon fiber. The material could provide better resistance to collisions, as most of the energy is absorbed. As a result, the adoption of carbon fiber has reduced collision rates around the world. In contrast, transportation improvements might reduce the number of face-to-face interactions. As people rely more on private vehicles, they may miss a chance to get acquainted with others randomly while walking. Due to people not having small talks or asking for directions, worsening social connections.
Moreover, advances in vehicle technology can contribute to the increase in the global average temperature. The vast majority of transport still uses gasoline, which burns to move a vehicle. The burning of fuel emits a large amount of carbon dioxide, considered a greenhouse gas. After reaching the Earth’s atmosphere, the gases remain there and trap outgoing radiation, resulting in global warming. As an example, recent UN research reveals that the transportation sector releases about 25 percent of greenhouse gases, which makes it one of the main contributors to rising temperatures. Nonetheless, the modern electric engines can power vehicles without any emissions, as the innovation requires electricity rather than fossil fuel.
To conclude, the advances in transportation technology can offer benefits, such as better distribution of innovations and zero-emissions vehicles. Still, it might cause fewer face-to-face conversations and a rise in the average global temper
ature.