Is Road Construction Paving Way For Global Warming?

Did You Know

Paving roads produces large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. This episode examines the environmental impact of road construction and what can be done to mitigate its effects.

Road construction is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and it's also one of the most dangerous types of construction. Every day, road crews clear away trees, underbrush, and other debris and build new roads. This activity generates huge amounts of CO2 emissions. In 2012, the Obama administration proposed a rule that would have required federal agencies to account for climate change impacts when making decisions about road construction projects. However, many people are unaware of the role road construction plays in exacerbating this problem. Every year, an estimated 26 gigatons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere as a result of road construction and maintenance. This is equivalent to the emissions from more than six million passenger cars.