Title

The life cycle assessment of alternative fuel chains for urban buses and trolleybuses

Reference

Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 99, 30 May 2012, Pages 98-103

Author(s)

L. Kliucininkas, J. Matulevicius, D. Martuzevicius

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

This paper describes a comparative analysis of public transport alternatives in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania. An LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) inventory analysis of fuel chains was undertaken using the midi urban bus and a similar type of trolleybus. The inventory analysis of fuel chains followed the guidelines provided by the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The ReCiPe Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodology was used to quantify weighted damage originating from five alternative fuel chains. The compressed biogas fuel chain had the lowest weighted damage value, namely 45.7 mPt/km, whereas weighted damage values of the fuel chains based on electricity generation for trolleybuses were 60.6 mPt/km (for natural gas) and 78.9 mPt/km (for heavy fuel oil). The diesel and compressed natural gas fuel chains exhibited considerably higher damage values of 114.2 mPt/km and 132.6 mPt/km, respectively. The comparative life cycle assessment of fuel chains suggested that biogas-powered buses and electric trolleybuses can be considered as the best alternatives to use when modernizing the public transport fleet in Kaunas.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Source of emissions >> Transport emissions
Climate change and energy >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon and renewable energy
Climate change and energy >> Greenhouse gas emissions >> Transport emissions
Sustainable mobility >> Environmental impacts of transport >> Transport emissions – Greenhouse gases

Keywords

Life cycle analysis; Alternative fuel chains; Bus; Trolleybus; Weighted damage

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479712000138
There is a fee to view this study in full    

Contact the study author at:

linas.kliucininkas@ktu.lt

Title

Cities and greenhouse gas emissions: moving forward

Reference

Environment and Urbanization January 10, 2011 0956247810392270
doi: 10.1177/0956247810392270

Author(s)

Daniel Hoornweg, dhoornweg@worldbank.org, Lorraine Sugar, Claudia Lorena Trejos Gomez

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Cities are blamed for the majority of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. So too are more affluent, highly urbanized countries. If all production- and consumption-based emissions that result from lifestyle and purchasing habits are included, urban residents and their associated affluence likely account for more than 80 per cent of the world's GHG emissions. Attribution of GHG emissions should be refined. Apportioning responsibility can be misguided, as recent literature demonstrates that residents of denser city centres can emit half the GHG emissions of their suburban neighbours. It also fails to capture the enormous disparities within and across cities as emissions are lowest for poor cities and particularly low for the urban poor.
This paper presents a detailed analysis of per capita GHG emissions for several large cities and a review of per capita emissions for 100 cities for which peer-reviewed studies are available. This highlights how average per capita GHG emissions for cities vary from more than 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) (Sydney, Calgary, Stuttgart and several major US cities) to less than half a tonne (various cities in Nepal, India and Bangladesh). The paper discusses where GHG emissions arise and where mitigation efforts may be most effective. It illustrates the need to obtain comparable estimates at city level and the importance of defining the scope of the analysis. Emissions for Toronto are presented at a neighbourhood level, city core level and metropolitan area level, and these are compared with provincial and national per capita totals. This shows that GHG emissions can vary noticeably for the same resident of a city or country depending on whether these are production- or consumption-based values. The methodologies and results presented form important inputs for policy development across urban sectors. The paper highlights the benefits and drawbacks of apportioning GHG emissions (and solid waste generation) per person. A strong correlation between high rates of GHG emissions and solid waste generation is presented. Policies that address both in concert may be more effective as they are both largely by-products of lifestyles.

Policy theme(s)

Climate change and energy>>Greenhouse gas emissions>>Transport emissions
Sustainable development and policy assessment>>Sustainable economic development>>Sustainable urban development

Keywords

Cities, climate change, scope of emissions, urban GHG emissions, urban policy complementarities

Entry Source:

N/A

Referred to in EC doc:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://eau.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/01/08/0956247810392270.full.pdf+html
There is a fee to view this study in full

Contact the study author at:

dhoornweg@worldbank.org