Global Warming

• Obviously, poor gas mileage translates to more gas being burned. As more gasoline is burned, more greenhouse gases are released into the air via exhaust fumes. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are two of the chief greenhouse gases that result from the burning of gasoline. As these gases enter the atmosphere, they contribute to what is known as the greenhouse effect. With more and more gases pumped into the atmosphere, the effect is increased and the temperature of the Earth rises. Ultimately, if left unchecked, this global warming will lead to more severe droughts, floods, rising sea levels and a shift in the world's precipitation.
  
  

Air Pollution

• Similar to greenhouse gases, the release of particulate matter into the air is a direct result of using gasoline. When gasoline is burned in your car or truck, impurities are expelled through your exhaust system. This black particulate matter combines with gases and forms smog; a common occurrence in many of the world's large cities. As a result of air pollution, not only to plants and wildlife suffer, but certain portions of the human populace are afflicted with health problems such as asthma. Again, a vehicle with bad gas mileage will contribute more to air pollution than a vehicle with better mileage.
  
  

Native Landscapes and Wildlife

• A gas guzzler is always thirsty, and the gasoline must come from somewhere. Usually, this means more drilling. When drilling occurs, roads must be built, pipelines must be installed, wells and drills must be erected. Thus, the native landscape is inevitably and irrevocably altered. As the landscape is altered, the plant wildlife native to the area are also affected. When any element of an ecosystem is changed, every living organism in the area must adapt to the change. If it fails, it must either relocate or die.
  
  

Oil-related Disasters

• Again, with more inefficient vehicles on the road, a greater demand for oil must exist. With greater demand, more oil must be shipped, usually from overseas. This increases the likelihood of an environmental disaster such as an oil spill. For example, if a tanker develops a leak during transport, countless forms of ocean life are negatively affected and often killed. Even the leaks that result from storage tanks or a wrecked fuel truck can have a disastrous impact on the local environment.
  
  

Groundwater Pollution

• In order to get gasoline, you must have oil. And to reach the oil, you must drill. However, when drilling for oil, the layers of earth and rock that separate the fossil fuel from groundwater are often broken. Thus, large reserves of fresh groundwater are polluted. With the increase in the world's population and the demand for more drinkable, clean water, this side effect of drilling poses a major environmental problem. If your vehicle were to get better gas mileage, there would be a diminished demand for oil and less drilling. Along with a decreased need to drill, groundwater could be better preserved.