The Role of the Automotive Industry:
The automobile industry has been effected by and played a huge role in this particular issue as cars have often been cited as a main contributor to global warming. Statistics show that gasoline and diesel cars contribute to over a quarter of energy related carbon dioxide emissions.
Scientific research has shown that we are emitting more carbon dioxide into the air than our atmosphere can handle. Car companies have taken notice and decided to do something about it. Currently there are more environmentally friendly cars being produced, such as Hybrids, that produce less pollution than a normal gasoline or diesel car does.
The Use of Media by Car Companies:
Car companies have heavily invested in advertisements and commercials to grab people’s attention and hopefully buy their product. Not only have the volume increased but the production value of car commercials have increased as well. Car companies have taken advantage of the digital age by using social media websites like twitter. With climate change being such a prevalent issue in today’s society, many car companies have advertised the environmentally friendly aspects of their cars through the use of media.
The Future of Electric Cars:
The future (as many predict) of environmentally friendly cars is the electric car. The electric car has been around throughout the history of the automobile industry, coming in many different forms and variations. It’s not until recently however that they’ve become more popular and are now being considered a viable option. This is in great part to the company Tesla Motors, with CEO Elon Musk at the head of the company.
When it comes to electric cars like Tesla, there are pros and cons. One element that is hindering electric cars is the costs (financially). Electric cars are expensive due to many expensive costs, especially the internal rechargeable battery. There also poses the issue of charging stations outside of one’s home. Car companies like Tesla are working on methods to reduce these issues by implementing more charging stations on highways and main roads. The cost of these cars is shrinking and according to these companies, will continue to shrink in order to make them more affordable to the common people.
The 2015 Volkswagen Scandal:
In September of 2015, it was revealed that many of the company’s cars were cheating on emission tests. This was accomplished, as the cars were able to detect when they were being tested and as such would change their performances to an acceptable level that would allow them to pass. This issue became a headline in many newspapers but it was the role of the media that really brought this issue to the light. Word spread like wildfire through the use of social media and pretty soon, the whole world new about this.
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The issue of climate change and cars is linked in several ways. The media can work in the car industries favour but it can also work against them as now it’s become very difficult to cover up scandals involving their companies.
Sources:
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Cooke, Lacy. Tesla Model S. Digital image. Singapore Tesla Owner Slapped with $15,000Fine for Carbon Emissions. 09 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.
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The issue of climate change has been debated for many years now. In the scientific community, there is a general consensus that it is a legitimate concern facing our world today and will continue to do so unless we do something about it.