OPINION: BUYING NEW GAS CARS IS A HARMFUL PRACTICE Hayes Gaboury With the return to the commuter lifestyle following the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more cars are back on the road each day. While this may seem like a return to normalcy at first glance, the concern stems from the brand new gas cars that are seen at every turn. The world is in a climate crisis, and as climate change gets worse, the impacts on everyday people will become more severe. By attempting to limit the number of new gas cars on the road, one can help to try and push back against the global climate crisis. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States produced 1.139 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in aviation and motor gasoline combustion emissions in 2019 alone. If that number does not spark any worry, keep in mind that this only accounts for about 22% of total U.S. energy-related emissions. The United States already generates a massive amount of carbon emissions, and the continuing production of gasoline-powered cars only adds to the problem. Not only does this increase people’s carbon footprint and incentivize the continuation of gas car production, but it also ignores climate change entirely. It is becoming harder and harder to justify brand-new gas cars in today’s society, as the improvements that have been made in both hybrid and fully electric vehicles have allowed these vehicles to compete with their full gas counterparts directly. As of 2020, there were 286.9 million registered vehicles in the United States, with 14.5 million of these being brand new cars and trucks. When the amount of new cars is combined with the average amounts of materials needed to produce each one, the true scope of the problem begins to unfold. Each new car takes a toll on the environment, and when the production costs are combined with years of CO2 emissions, the full scale of the issue begins to take shape. We cannot continue to produce vehicles at that rate if we hope to curb this environmental crisis we face. However, the problem doesn’t stop with the manufacturers; it is up to the consumers to truly stop the production. The demand for gas cars has stayed strong for decades, and thus the car manufacturers are pushed to make more and more cars each year. By being more conscious of our purchasing habits, we can help to push back against the fierce demand that exists. It’s easy to take the easy way out, but those who go the extra mile save the planet and a good bit of money. One such example is Carlmont High School student Aarya Mukherjee, who elected to buy a slightly damaged BMW instead of paying full price for a brand new car. “I bought a 2018 BMW 340I, which is a used car, so I feel better that I’m not putting another new gas car on the street,” Mukherjee said. “Most companies are starting to transition towards electric-only vehicle lineups, so investing in a new gas car made little economic or environmental sense to me.” If more people took a similar approach to buying cars, it would help drive down the demand for brand new gas cars and thus help the issue. With the amount of technology and tools available to help ensure security when buying certified pre-owned or slightly damaged vehicles, it’s a waste of money not to explore possible options in that market. With the massive issue of climate change looming over everyone’s heads, the thought of brand new gas cars should be the last thing on anyone’s wishlist. With the number of alternatives available, it’s good practice to consider several different options before resorting to another gas car. The more people open their minds to these alternatives, the more of a chance we have against climate change. Hayes Gaboury
50 HIGHLANDER OPINION
