In an era defined by prevalent usage of fossil fuel-based vehicles tailpipe pollution has become a pressing concern. There are some people who argue that the best solution to limit the greenhouse gas emissions produced by vehicles is to increase the price of fuel for cars and vehicles. In my opinion, this is a multi-pronged problem, and increasing the price of fuel alone is not an efficacious solution.
First and foremost, as we can observe there is an unprecedented tendency towards usage of personal vehicles, especially in major metropolitan areas. As a consequence, the abundance of cars majorly contributes to air pollution. Governments by increasing the price of gasoline can disincentivise car users to drive their own personal vehicles. Therefore, they will seek alternatives to their cars, such as bicycles, electric scooters, and public transportation, which are less likely to contribute to environmental degradation. Furthermore, price change can stimulate investors to invest in greener technologies in the cities, including sustainable energy sources and electric cars.
On the other hand, as environmental pollution is a multi-faceted problem relying solely on price increases is not enough. If governments are really willing to diminish air pollution in the cities, they should come up with greener solutions which can stimulate car users to change their habits in the long term. Firstly, governments should make investments in less developed areas where they lack pedestrian-oriented infrastructure. The lack of public transportation and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure discourage people from commuting. Were those areas to be equipped with adequate infrastructure people will willingly opt for using public transportation which can immensely reduce personal vehicle usage.
Moreover, there are better measures to be taken for curbing tailpipe emissions. For instance, governments can invest in renewable energy sources to encourage people to use EVs. Furthermore, governments can impose stringent regulations upon car manufacturing. For example, in Europe governments imposed laws upon fossil fuel-based car manufacturing, stating that all car manufacturers should at least design an EV annually.
To summarise, while increasing gasoline prices may contribute to mitigating environmental erosion, it is not sufficient at all. A comprehensive approach that encompasses adequate urban development, stringent regulations, and technological advancement is more likely to be effective at tackling the issue.