China, India, Russia, Japan, and the United States remain among the world’s largest carbon dioxide (CO2)-emitting countries in 2018, according to the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research’s (EDGAR) Fossil CO2 (carbon dioxide) and GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions of all world countries report released last year.
While the Philippines stays far behind on the list, the country’s total amount of emissions still increased in 2018. EDGAR reports show that the country generated 147.86 Mt CO2 (megatons of carbon dioxide) in 2018, a growth of 3.09% from 143.42 Mt CO2 in 2017. What’s more alarming: From 2015’s 119.26 Mt CO2, the country’s emissions hit a double-digit surge of 23.98% in just three years.
The power-hungry energy sector still plays the main catalyst for CO2 and GHG emission growth around the world. While the transportation sector just follows behind energy, it still has a huge contribution to the whole equation, and it’s the same case in the Philippines.
In the Asia-Pacific region, where the Philippines is located, CO2 and GHG emissions pose a serious health threat to 92% of the population, or around 4 billion people. To further show emissions’ impact on people’s lives, air pollution now ranks fifth among the leading causes of death worldwide.
From numerous studies, several strategies have already been adopted to reduce emissions by turning to eco-friendlier and renewable energy sources other than fossil fuels. Major players in the automobile industry have started taking this approach by producing electric vehicles (EVs).
Nissan, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, spearheads the automobile industry’s shift toward clean energy with the Nissan LEAF. The paragon of its Nissan Intelligent Mobility campaign in the Philippines, Nissan is bringing the Nissan LEAF to the country, making EVs more available to many people.
Utilizing a rechargeable battery pack, the Nissan LEAF produces zero emissions compared to automobiles powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). EVs like Nissan LEAF can help in significantly reducing the amount of CO2 and GHG released to the atmosphere resulting from human activity. Even just one EV can save 4.6 metric tons of CO2 and GHG gases every year, equivalent to planting 209 trees.
Since Nissan’s introduction of the LEAF in 2010, more than 460,000 Nissan LEAF users have been making their contribution, preventing around 2.1 million metric tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere. That equates to 81 million trees required to process such an amount of air pollution in one year. Nissan LEAF owners have driven over 13 billion emission-free kilometers, the distance of driving to the moon over 33,800 times.
Experts project that current CO2 emissions should be reduced by 55% to meet climate change goals in 2030. That said, 2020 is seen as the turning-point for consumers to switch to EVs to cut down air pollution. As one of the most accessible EVs in the market, the Nissan LEAF can help consumers realize these goals on a global scale.