Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through the Shift From Fossil Fuels to Electricity in the Mass Transport System in Guayaquil, Ecuador

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel D. Ramirez ◽  
Danilo Arcentales ◽  
Andrea Boero
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Gas Emissions

Climate change is a serious threat to sustainability. Anthropogenic climate change is due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere beyond natural levels. Anthropogenic GHG emissions are mostly associated with carbon-dioxide (CO2) originated in the combustion of fossil fuels used for heat, power, and transportation. Globally, transportation contributes to 14% of the global GHG emissions. The transport sector is one of the main contributors to the greenhouse gas emissions of Ecuador. In Guayaquil, the road mass transportation system comprises regular buses and the bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Electricity in Ecuador is mostly derived from hydropower, hence incurs relatively low GHG emissions along its life cycle. Therefore, electrification of transport has been seen as an opportunity for mitigation of GHG emissions. In this study, the effect of partial replacement of the bus rapid system fleet is investigated. Feeders have been chosen as the replacement target in five different scenarios. GHG emissions from diesel-based feeders have been calculated using the GREET Fleet Footprint Calculator tool. The GHG emissions associated with the electricity used for transportation is calculated using the life cycle inventory of the electricity generation system of Ecuador. Three energy mix scenarios are used for this purpose. The 2012 mix which had 61% hydropower; the mix of 85% hydropower and the marginal electricity scenario, which supposed the extreme case when the new demand for electricity occurs during peak demand periods. Results indicate that mitigation of GHG emissions is possible for almost all scenarios of percentage fleet replacement and all mix scenarios. Electric buses efficiency and the carbon intensity of the electricity mix are critical for GHG mitigation.

A Review of Transport Policies in Support of Climate Actions in Asian Cities and Countries

Earth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-745
Author(s):  
Madan B. Regmi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Urban Transport ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Asian Cities ◽  
Nationally Determined Contributions

Asia is one of the continents that is the most affected by the impacts of climate change. Asian countries need to take climate actions and mitigate emissions from the urban passenger transport sector. Despite some progress in improving urban mobility in Asian cities, greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector continue to rise. Policy makers who are responsible for managing mobilities must play a major role in decarbonizing the transport sector. In this context, this paper reviews the efforts of selected Asian countries and cities towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the urban transport sector. It will analyze their pledges in the Nationally Determined Contributions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and will review their relevant transport sector strategies, policies, and practices. It will also look at trends in transport sector emissions and air pollution in different cities, including the short-term impacts of COVID-19. Lastly, it reviews governance issues and the roles that institutions should play to implement polices to decarbonize transport. Based on this analysis, this paper offers policy suggestions to accelerate actions, enhance cross-sectoral coordination, and move towards carbon neutrality in the transport sector in Asia.

scholarly journals Method for a Multi-Vehicle, Simulation-Based Life Cycle Assessment and Application to Berlin’s Motorized Individual Transport

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7302
Author(s):  
Anne Magdalene Syré ◽  
Florian Heining ◽  
Dietmar Göhlich
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Vehicle Simulation ◽  
Transport Simulation ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

The transport sector in Germany causes one-quarter of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. One potential solution to reduce these emissions is the use of battery electric vehicles. Although a number of life cycle assessments have been conducted for these vehicles, the influence of a transport system-wide transition has not been addressed sufficiently. Therefore, we developed a method which combines life cycle assessment with an agent-based transport simulation and synthetic electric-, diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicle models. We use a transport simulation to obtain the number of vehicles, their lifetime mileage and road-specific consumption. Subsequently, we analyze the product systems’ vehicle production, use phase and end-of-life. The results are scaled depending on the covered distance, the vehicle weight and the consumption for the whole life cycle. The results indicate that the sole transition of drive trains is insufficient to significantly lower the greenhouse gas emissions. However, sensitivity analyses demonstrate that there is a considerable potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with higher shares of renewable energies, a different vehicle distribution and a higher lifetime mileage. The method facilitates the assessment of the ecological impacts of complete car-based transportation in urban agglomerations and is able to analyze different transport sectors.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Refrigeration Equipment in Malaysia

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Saidur ◽  
MA Sattar ◽  
H.H. Masjuki ◽  
M.Y. Jamaluddin
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Air Conditioner ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Refrigeration Equipment

This paper presents an analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from refrigeration equipment. The refrigeration equipments use refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons HFCs, which are believed to contribute the ozone depletion and global warming. Refrigeration equipment thus contributes indirectly through emission due to electricity consumption and directly due to the emission of refrigerants. Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels are quantified and presented in this paper. The calculation was carried out based on emissions per unit electricity generated and the type of fuel used. The direct emission of refrigerant was calculated based on emission factor and according to the procedure of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USA. A study was conducted to evaluate the refrigerant losses to the atmosphere and the CO2 emission from fossil fuels to generate power to run the refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. In this paper, total appliance annual energy consumption by refrigerator-freezer and air conditioner as well as emission has been estimated for a period of 19 years (1997–2015) using the survey data. Energy savings and emission reductions achievable by raising thermostat set point temperature have been calculated for a period of 10 (i.e. 2005–2015) years.

scholarly journals Are reported greenhouse gas emissions influencing corporate financial performance?

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-606
Author(s):  
Elena-Mirela Nichita ◽  
◽  
Elena Nechita ◽  
Cristina-Lidia Manea ◽  
Alina Mihaela Irimescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Chemical Industry ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Central Eastern Europe ◽  
Return On Sales

Research Question: This paper aims to analyse the impact of reported greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on financial performance of companies operating in the chemical industry from Central-Eastern Europe over the period 2015-2019. Motivation: Currently, the climate change and global warming have become highly topical due to their progressively visible destructive effects worldwide on the environment, society, and economic activity. Idea: To offer the suitable information to all its stakeholders, each company should identify the necessary information, measure it, make it useful, and take reasonable steps to ensure that it’s accurate; our research investigates the effect of reported greenhouse gas emissions on return on sales, as a measure of business performance. Data: The paper is based on panel data extracted from non-financial and/or annual reports for the top 10 largest companies operating in the chemical industry geographically located in Central-Eastern Europe covering the time frame 2015-2019. The final sample consists of 34 firms and 134 firm-year observations. Tools: A multiple linear regression model was designed and applied, having return on sales as the dependent variable and GHG emissions as the independent variable. Findings: The findings of our study confirm that a lower level of GHG emissions will generate an increase in return on sales, consequently, the environmental performance reported in terms of controlling for GHG emissions enhances the financial performance measured as return on sales ratio. Contribution: The paper contributes to the literature on climate change, revealing a negative, but significant effect of GHG emissions on financial performance and endorsing that companies which today pay less attention to this global concern, tomorrow will face difficulties in terms of sales.

AGRICULTURE IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHALLENGES – THE PROBLEM OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol XXI (2) ◽  
pp. 246-255
Author(s):  
Hanna Pondel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Local Conditions

Changes in seasonal weather cycles, a growing number of extreme phenomena, an upward trend in temperature and changes in the distribution of rainfall, significantly affect the functioning and effectiveness of agriculture. However, agriculture plays a major role in the emergence and intensification of these phenomena. The aim of the article is to present, analyse and evaluate the relations between agriculture and climate, with particular emphasis on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture in these relations. A cause-and-effect analysis was conducted based on literature studies, using the descriptive statistics method and analysis of the development trend. The basis for analysis were data on GHG emissions in the European Union (EU-28). The contribution of agriculture to the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, albeit slightly but still increasing in recent years. The level of this emission is determined primarily by the type of agricultural activity conducted – animal production is definitely responsible for higher emissions than plant production. It is difficult to present a universal model of agricultural adaptation to climate change and a set of actions limiting the negative impact of agricultural production on climate. This is hindered by both the specificity of the agricultural sector and the large diversity of local conditions and applied farming practices. The opportunity to increase the effectiveness of actions taken may be a better connection between the implementation of objectives including the reduction of the causes and negative consequences of climate change and the objectives of sustainable agricultural development.

scholarly journals Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture, with Particular Emphasis on Emissions from Energy Used

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3784
Author(s):  
Piotr Gołasa ◽  
Marcin Wysokiński ◽  
Wioletta Bieńkowska-Gołasa ◽  
Piotr Gradziuk ◽  
Magdalena Golonko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Emission Volume

The relationship between agriculture and climate change is two-sided. Agriculture is the branch of the economy most affected by the ongoing processes. It is also a large emitter of greenhouse gases and there are more and more voices about the need to reduce emissions. The purpose of the study was, based on FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network) data, to determine the structure of greenhouse gas emissions in farms and to identify types of farms where it is possible to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions through better energy use. The emission volume was determined on the basis of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology modified for the FADN data. The emissions related to the production of energy were found to be of minor importance compared to other emission sources. Only in the horticultural crop type is the emission from the Energy section the dominant stream of GHG emission. The greatest emissions come from livestock production. Therefore, the emphasis on reducing emissions should not be placed on the Energy sector because, except for the type of horticultural farm, there is not much potential for reduction. The introduction of taxes for GHG emissions at the level of 27.31 EUR/t would reduce farm income from 21% for the type of field crops to 40% for the type of herbivorous animals. The exception is low-emission permanent crops, where the decrease in income would be only 3.85%.

scholarly journals Factors of Change: The influence of policy environment factors on climate change mitigation strategies in the transport sector

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Lah
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Institutional Structures ◽  
Change Mitigation ◽  
Policy Stability

There is a large potential for cost-effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve the sustainability of the transport sector that is yet unexploited, in particular in the urban context. Considering the cost-effectiveness and the potential for co-benefits, it is hard to understand why energy gains and mitigation action in the transport sector is still lagging behind the potential. Particularly interesting is the fact that there is substantial difference among countries with relatively similar economic performances, such as the OECD countries in the development of their transport CO2 emission over the past thirty years despite the fact that these countries had relatively similar access to efficient technologies and vehicles. This study aims to apply some well established political science theories on the particular example of climate change mitigation in the transport sector in order to identify some of the factors that could help explain the variations in success of policies and strategies in this sector. The analysis suggests that institutional arrangements that contribute to consensus building in the political process provide a high level of political and policy stability which is vital to long-term changes in energy end-use sectors that rely on long-term investments. However, there is no direct correlation between institutional structures, e.g. corporatism and success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. Environmental objectives need to be built into the consensus-based policy structure before actual policy progress can be observed. This usually takes longer in consensus democracies than in politically more agile majoritarian policy environments, but the policy stability that builds on corporatist institutional structures is likely to experience changes over a longer-term, in this case to a shift towards low-carbon transport that endures.

scholarly journals The RothC Model to Complement Life Cycle Analyses: A Case Study of an Italian Olive Grove

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 569
Author(s):  
Valentina Fantin ◽  
Alessandro Buscaroli ◽  
Patrizia Buttol ◽  
Elisa Novelli ◽  
Cristian Soldati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Lazio Region ◽  
Rothc Model

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a fundamental role in soil health, and its storage in soil is an important element to mitigate climate change. How to include this factor in Life Cycle Assessment studies has been the object of several papers and is still under discussion. SOC storage has been proposed as an additional environmental information in some applications of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). In the framework of wider activity aimed at producing the PEF of olive oil, the RothC model was applied to an olive cultivation located in Lazio region (Italy) to calculate the SOC storage and assess four scenarios representing different agricultural practices. RothC applicability, possible use of its results for improving product environmental performance, and relevance of SOC storage in terms of CO2eq compared to greenhouse gas emissions of the life-cycle of olive oil are discussed in this paper. According to the results, in all scenarios, the contribution in terms of CO2eq associated with SOC storage is remarkable compared to the total greenhouse gas emissions of the olive oil life-cycle. It is the opinion of the authors that the calculation of the SOC balance allows a more proper evaluation of the agricultural products contribution to climate change, and that the indications of the scenarios analysis are useful to enhance the environmental performance of these products. The downside is that the application of RothC requires additional data collection and expertise if compared to the execution of PEF studies.

scholarly journals Conclusion

2021 ◽  
pp. 119-123
Author(s):  
John Ogony Odiyo ◽  
Peter Bitta Bikam ◽  
James Chakwizira
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Environmental Challenges

AbstractTransition to green economy and transport is crucial to reduce environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in South Africa. However, the challenges associated with the transition present opportunities for innovation and mitigation within the green economy and transport sector. Green economy and transport sector initiatives have the potential to address economic and environmental challenges and open new sources of growth.

Better Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting for Biofuels: A Key to Biofuels Sustainability

Climate Law ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 279-295
Author(s):  
Taotao Yue ◽  
Marjan Peeters
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Regulatory Approach ◽  
Different Levels

Biofuels are promoted by governments as a replacement for fossil fuels in the transport sector. However, according to current scientific evidence, their use does not necessarily significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This article examines issues related to the regulation of biofuels’ life-cycle ghg emissions. It finds that a regulatory gap exists at the international level, whilst regulation at the domestic level faces limits or is insufficient to fill this gap. It remains to be seen whether, taking into account the scientific complexities, coherent international rules for biofuels will be adopted. Until then, a polycentric regulatory approach on the use of biofuels, which addresses the sustainability problem at multiple scales, thereby enabling experimentation and cross-influence among different levels of standard-setting, will remain in place across the world. The current approach entails a potentially beneficial learning process on how to properly regulate biofuels. However, there is a risk that national regulators will promote biofuels without knowing or accounting exactly for the extent to which they contribute to greenhouse gas reductions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document