Transport emissions sizable, and rising

Almost one-sixth of the carbon dioxide produced by human activity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution has resulted from the transport of goods and people—a fraction that is increasing by the year, scientists say.

Worldwide, human-generated emissions of carbon dioxide rose about 13 percent between 1990 and 2000, says Jan Fuglestvedt, an atmospheric chemist at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research–Oslo.