Two Billion Cars

At present, there are roughly a billion cars in the world. Yet within twenty years, the number will increase to 2 billion, a consequence of China and India's explosive growth. Given that greenhouse gases are already creating havoc with our climate, does this mean that matters will only get worse? Detroit, the federal government, and-not least-American consumers have all contributed to the current crisis. Through a concise history of America's love affair with cars and an overview of...
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At present, there are roughly a billion cars in the world. Yet within twenty years, the number will increase to 2 billion, a consequence of China and India's explosive growth. Given that greenhouse gases are already creating havoc with our climate, does this mean that matters will only get worse? Detroit, the federal government, and-not least-American consumers have all contributed to the current crisis. Through a concise history of America's love affair with cars and an overview of the global auto industry, Daniel Sperling, one of the nation's leading transportation experts, and Deborah Gordon explain how we arrived at this state, and what we can do about it. Most provocatively, the authors contend that the two places that are the most troublesome with regard to emissions--California and China--are the most likely to become world leaders on these issues. Arnold Schwarzenegger's improbable embrace of eco-friendly fuel policies and China's forthright recognition that it needs to address its rampant pollution with a far-reaching emissions policy suggest that if they can tackle the issue effectively and honestly, then there really is reason for hope.