Head over to the Carbon Reduction Visualizer to explore data on Georgia’s greenhouse gas emissions. You can see how emissions fall if we scale solutions to ambitious, but achievable, levels.
Transportation
Here’s the deal
Georgia has nearly 90,000 miles of public roads. In 2021, vehicles accounted for about 41% of the state’s GHG emissions -- our single largest source. Switching out gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles for electric vehicles, increasing mass transit, and adopting more alternative transportation options will help us dramatically reduce these emissions.
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Mt
Mass Transit
Mass...
When people live where it’s easy to take the bus, the train or a streetcar, it reduces emissions. Growth in mass transit ridership across the state could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if we locate 320,000 additional households in Transit Oriented Developments by 2030.
Electric
Vehicles
Elec...
Electric vehicles produce fewer emissions - especially as Georgia’s electricity becomes low-carbon. Putting more electric vehicles on the road while retiring older conventional models could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if we replaced 250,000 gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles by 2030.
Energy-Efficient
Cars
Ener...
Energy efficient cars are engineered to have better fuel economy, or operate as a hybrid (gas and electric). Putting more energy efficient cars on the road could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if new cars purchased in Georgia were at least 3% more fuel efficient than they are today by 2030.
Energy-Efficient
Trucks
Ener...
Reducing the diesel fuel consumption from the 400,000 registered medium and heavy duty trucks in Georgia comes from increasing fuel efficiency in Georgia’s truck fleet as well as smarter routing to reduce vehicle miles driven overall. If we reduce diesel fuel use in medium duty and heavy duty trucks by 10%, we could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons by 2030.
Alternative
Transportation
Alte...
Increasing low- and zero-carbon alternatives to car trips is a no-brainer but it’s not always easy to bike, walk, or scooter to your destination. We can build supportive infrastructure like safe bike paths, and increase opportunities for teleworking post-COVID. We could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if we eliminate 2.5% of our vehicle miles traveled by 2030.
Mass Transit
When people live where it’s easy to take the bus, the train or a streetcar, it reduces emissions. Growth in mass transit ridership across the state could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if we locate 320,000 additional households in Transit Oriented Developments by 2030.
Learn More
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles produce fewer emissions - especially as Georgia’s electricity becomes low-carbon. Putting more electric vehicles on the road while retiring older conventional models could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if we replaced 250,000 gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles by 2030.
Learn More
Energy-Efficient Cars
Energy efficient cars are engineered to have better fuel economy, or operate as a hybrid (gas and electric). Putting more energy efficient cars on the road could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if new cars purchased in Georgia were at least 3% more fuel efficient than they are today by 2030.
Learn More
Energy-Efficient Trucks
Reducing the diesel fuel consumption from the 4 million registered medium and heavy duty trucks in Georgia comes from increasing fuel efficiency in Georgia’s truck fleet as well as smarter routing to reduce vehicle miles driven overall. If we reduce diesel fuel use in medium duty and heavy duty trucks by 10%, we could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons by 2030.
Learn More
Alternative Transportation
Increasing low- and zero-carbon alternatives to car trips is a no-brainer but it’s not always easy to bike, walk, or scooter to your destination. We can build supportive infrastructure like safe bike paths, and increase opportunities for teleworking post-COVID. We could reduce emissions by 1 million metric tons if we eliminate 2.5% of our car trips by 2030.
Learn More
Here’s where we are
More and more Georgians are going electric. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicle registrations have increased in Georgia. In 2021, there were about 34,000 EVs registered in the state. But, there’s still a long way to go. This number represents about 0.4% of all registered vehicles in the state.
Here’s where we are
Stories & Studies
How Chatham County Built a Resilience Program That Puts People First
What does resilience actually look like at the county level? For coastal Chatham County, it means thinking about everything from solar panels on government buildings to daycare access, because a single shock, like a hurricane closing local daycares, can ripple
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What Are the Benefits of Switching to an Electric Vehicle in Georgia?
Georgia has become one of the country's biggest hubs for electric vehicle manufacturing, and more Georgians are getting behind the wheel of an EV every year. If you're weighing a switch from a gas-powered car or truck, the benefits go well beyond what you
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Dr. Preeti Jaggi on Children’s Health, Clean Air, and the Power of Collective Action
Locally focused, cross-disciplinary climate action is crucial to advancing meaningful solutions across Georgia. That type of work, rooted in both science and community partnership, is exactly what Dr. Preeti Jaggi is focused on. A pediatric infectious disease
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there federal tax incentives for EVs?
The Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022, included federal tax credits for new, used, leased, and commercial EVs through 2032. In July 2025, Congress voted to repeal these tax credits effective October 1, 2025.
Even without incentives, driving an EV can still save you money in the long run. Typical drivers save $6,000 – $10,000 over the life of the vehicle due to reduced maintenance and fueling costs compared to gas-powered vehicles. Learn more about the benefits of upgrading to an EV in our climate solutions toolkit.
How many EVs are there in Georgia?
As of September 2024, over 100,000 EVs were registered in Georgia. The projected percentage share of new vehicle sales for EVs is estimated to reach 46% of total light-duty vehicle sales in 2030. We assume that Georgia’s adoption will fall close to this national range, depending on future technology and policy scenarios.
What Amtrak routes are there in Georgia?
Four Amtrak routes provide passenger rail service in Georgia on a daily basis. Three of these routes serve coastal Georgia: the Palmetto, which runs between New York and Savannah, and the Silver Meteor and Silver Star lines, which travel between New York and Miami. All three coastal trains stops in Savannah, and the city of Jesup is also a stop on the Silver Star line. The Crescent Route serves North Georgia with stops in Atlanta, Gainesville, and Toccoa on its route from New Orleans to New York City.
Can you really bike or walk to work in Georgia?
In metro Atlanta, we already have approximately 600 miles of marked and/or protected bike lanes, multi-use paths, and “sharrow” streets, which are painted to indicate shared use for bikes and cars. When these urban solutions are combined with other alternatives like buses, rail lines, and carpools, walking and biking can absolutely play a role in helping to reduce the number of cars on Georgia roads.
Why are energy-efficient cars and trucks an important climate solution?
CO2 emissions are (nearly linearly) correlated to vehicle size and weight. In Georgia, the share of the light duty vehicle fleet that is comprised of larger vehicles (light trucks and SUVs) is about 60% compared to a national average share of about 45%.
How do most people commute in Georgia?
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2022 Regional Transportation Plan: “Travel by specific modes has remained largely consistent in recent history. The majority of metro Atlanta residents commute in single occupant vehicles. Fewer than five percent of workers currently commute by transit, walking, or biking.”
How does my Georgia city or county compare to my neighbors on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation?
The Drawdown Georgia Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trackers provides monthly greenhouse gas emission estimates for Georgia’s 159 counties and over 200 cities. Emissions are categorized by sector to give us a picture of where emissions are now and how they change as we advance on our goal of drawing down Georgia’s carbon emissions.
To find your local emissions from transportation, visit the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trackers and select your county or city on the related Tracker map.