There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding Uber, but what about the effects of all these new vehicles on the environment? C02 emissions are on the rise all over the planet, reaching unprecedented heights since 2013. Here in California, we are experiencing the worst drought in history. I love this state and used to admire lush palm trees on my street, which are now brown which match the lawns.

The term ride-sharing is misleading. Uber is the same as taking a taxi. Carpooling and electric cars could be the solution, but somewhere down the line. What can be done to cap the amount of on-demand cars today? Ride-hailing apps such as Uber are growing immensely in New York. The city has experienced an increase of around 40,000 cars in 2011, to a whopping 63,000 right now.

After a long battle with New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio, Uber has finally agreed to release its data in hopes of alleviating traffic congestion. A similar ruling took place in San Francisco in June, limiting the amount of Uber drivers on Market street to make the streets safer. The lengths to which the mayor and city planners, not to mention environmental activists had to go to force Uber to release its data, continues to paint Uber as a megalomaniac company. With that said, this new agreement is good news for traffic-ridden New York City, but what does it mean for all the other states and how will this affect the environment?

All you have to do is scan the web about the sharing economy, and you’ll come across articles about building community, helping entrepreneurs create their vision and promoting a more sustainable world. But the same doesn’t apply to Uber, which is focused on the bottom line. Without New York City forcing Uber, they would have released as many cars on the road as humanly possible.

“Let’s be clear,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Uber is a multibillion dollar corporation, and they’re acting like one. They’re looking out for their corporate bottom line.”

With inexpensive car services, doesn’t that just encourage people to take a ride instead of public transportation? If you’ve ever ridden MUNI in San Francisco, you understand the frustration with unreliable public transportation, which makes these services a convenient option.

I’m not against on-demand car services, but I am sick of how Uber thinks it can escape rules because it is a multi-billion dollar company. Uber has decided to share its data in the coming months, but what about the damage that has already been done?

Can carpooling be a viable solution to our C02 emission woes?

I was almost swayed by Uber’s carpool initiative launched in 2014. In San Francisco, Uber’s first carpooling city, UberPool makes up 50 percent of all rides right now. There’s no doubt that having three people in a car versus one is beneficial to the environment, but what isn’t beneficial is hiding data that could potentially reduce carbon emissions. I’m not for complete transparency, but I’m relieved Uber will finally come clean about how many cars they have on the roads so city planners can process this data and make recommendations.

Uber’s carpooling initiative brings in a profit because at the end of the day they are a business, so it isn’t merely about reducing its carbon footprint. It’s a step in the right direction, but I’m still not convinced that Uber has the environment as a priority. All you have to do is look at how Mayor de Blasio had to get in the ring with the corporate giant to finally get them to comply. Cities keep growing, which means more cars on the road. I commend New York City for putting up a fight against the “corporate behemoth,” so there’s hope.  

Technology has made our lives easier. Everything we want is just an app click away. What that means for travelers is easy access, but what that means for the environment is more pollution. On-demand means more drivers, so this data needs to be released so cities can plan accordingly. Uber has agreed to release its data to New York City, but it’s too little too late. The city has been in the dark about how many cars have been on their roads, delaying important plans. If the city does decide to cap the amount of Uber drivers I hope Uber complies, but I’m not holding my breath.