In his book Two Billion Cars, UC Davis professor Daniel Sperling paints a dark picture of the future unless we change our bad driving habits. Then he shows how we can do that, together. (Karin Higgins and Russ Thebaud/UC Davis photo illustration)
Sperling’s busy calendar
February 2009:
- Comedy Central’s The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Interview scheduled for Feb. 11
January 2009:
- Washington, D.C.: Advises staff members of U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
- Washington, D.C.: Speaks at national Transportation Research Board annual meeting
- Washington, D.C.: Speaks at World Affairs Council
- National Public Radio’s Fresh Air: Interview “A Billion Cars and Counting”
- Davos, Switzerland: Chairs the Global Agenda Council on the Future of Mobility at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
December 2008:
- Sacramento: In California Air Resources Board vote, orders heavy-duty diesel trucks to cut emissions by 2011
- Sacramento: In California Air Resources Board vote watched worldwide, approves roadmap to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
- New York Times “Wheels” blog: Interview “Searching for Solutions in the Face of Unsustainable Mobility”
November 2008:
- Dubai: Chairs session at Summit on the Global Agenda 2008
- New York Times: Publishes op-ed commentary “How High Gas Prices Can Save the Car Industry”
- National Public Radio’s “Living on Earth”: Interview “Greenbacks for Greener Cars”
- National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation”: Interview “Can Plug-in Cars Energize the Auto Industry?”
- CNBC’s Wall Street Journal Report: Interview “The Future of the Auto Industry”
October 2008:
- London: Keynote speaker, meets British prime minister at International Experts Meeting on Electrification of Transportation
Expert drives car and climate solutions on a global scale
Our passion for driving what we want, where and when we want, has driven us to the cliff’s edge: Now we must sharply reduce our use of oil-based auto fuels, or face disastrous climate changes.
UC Davis transportation expert Daniel Sperling has a vision of how we can make that transformation and what it will require — revolutionary new cars, fuels and personal behavior — and he is being heard around the world by leaders in government, industry, science, human welfare and environmental conservation.
Among his recent public presentations: an interview on the National Public Radio program “Fresh Air.”
Sperling is a professor of civil engineering and of environmental science and policy, and founding director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. He is co-author of the California’s innovative Low Carbon Fuel Standard and a member of the globally influential California Air Resources Board.
His predictions are outlined in a new book, “Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability” (Oxford University Press), written with co-author Deborah Gordon and with a foreword by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The UC Davis News Service recently pulled Sperling out of the policy fast lane for a short conversation about clean cars, green fuels and changing the way people drive. His comments, shown in video clips, are below.
The problem (USA)
Transportation accounts for 1/3 of the oil consumed and 2/3 of the carbon dioxide released in the United States. That’s a recipe for trouble.
Flash video (21 seconds)
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The problem (globally)
What happens when the rest of the world gets the same freedom of mobility that Americans have?
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The transformation
Expect big changes in the cars we drive, the fuels they run on, and our 80-year-old driving habits.
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The role of information technologies
Computers, cell phones and the Internet will help us coordinate door-to-door rides, smart carpooling and neighborhood car-sharing.
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Yes we can
Working together, as citizens of the world, we can have a smaller environmental footprint and better lives, Sperling says.
Flash video (1 min 11 sec)