Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing the carbon footprint of the transport sector in mega cities via streamlined life cycle assessment: a case study of Shenzhen, South China

  • CARBON FOOTPRINTING
  • Published:
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

As one of largest energy consumers, the transport sector (TS) has significant impacts on the environment. Shenzhen, a developed megacity in South China, plays a leadership role in promoting the development of energy efficient vehicles in China.

Methods

This paper aims to assess the carbon footprint (CF) of the TS in Shenzhen via a Streamlined Life Cycle Assessment method. Consequently, the current environmental performance of the TS is evaluated and improvement potentials are examined.

Results and discussion

The results show that CF has gained rapid growth over the past decade at an annual rate of 15.3 %, closely corresponding with the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (18.9 %) in Shenzhen. The total CF in 2013 was estimated as 50.7 million tons (ranging from 41.7 to 59.9). Road based freight transport accounts for the largest share of the TS’ emissions. The most significant contributors in this sector are: light duty trucks, urban public transport bus service, and passenger air transport. Meanwhile, this study took new energy vehicles into consideration in order to explore the range of CF mitigation potential in Shenzhen. The potential carbon abatement is not significant in comparison with the impact growth derived from the increasing freight and passenger transport based on the assumption that the transport intensity and its annual growth rate maintain at the current levels.

Conclusions

This study offers a useful approach to evaluate the available options for sustainable transport system planning in Shenzhen. For carbon emissions reductions from the TS, policies and technological innovations are essential to facilitate the transition to a low carbon TS. In addition, the methodology developed in this study could be used for assessing CF in other sectors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen NJH, Brandstrup J (2008) Monte Carlo Simulation in Crystal Ball 7.3. Aarhus University, May 2008

  • APT (2015) Chinese airline completes cooking oil fuel flight. The Express Tribune News Network. Available at: http://tribune.com.pk/story/856836/chinese-airline-completes-cooking-oil-fuel-flight/ (March 21, 2015)

  • Bauer C, Hofer J, Althaus HJ, Del Duce A, Simons A (2015) The environmental performance of current and future passenger vehicles: life cycle assessment based on a novel scenario analysis framework. Appl Energ 157:871–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat A, Kumar A (2008) Application of the Crystal Ball® software for uncertainty and sensitivity analyses for predicted concentration and risk levels. Environ Prog 27:289–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bi Z, Song L, De Kleine R, Mi CC, Keoleian GA (2015) Plug-in vs. wireless charging: life cycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions for an electric bus system. Appl Energ 146:11–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bockarjova M, Steg L (2014) Can protection motivation theory predict pro-environmental behavior? Explaining the adoption of electric vehicles in the Netherlands. Global Environ Chang 28:276–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers S (2012) China: Shenzhen stands out as pioneering EV city. EV Infrastructure. Available at: http://analysis.evupdate.com/ev-infrastructure/china-shenzhen-stands-out-pioneering-ev-city (May 11, 2012)

  • Cristea A, Hummels D, Puzzello L, Avetisyan M (2011) Trade and the greenhouse gas emissions from international freight transport. University of Oregon, Purdue University and NBER, Monash University, University of Southern California

  • CTCS (2014) Year Book of China Transportation & Communications (2013). China Transportation and Communications Society (CTCS), Beijing

  • Dennis (2013) Few LNG stations in Shenzhen, few LNG trucks. Available at: http://www.chinatrucks.com/news/2013/0709/article_4677.html

  • Duan H, Hu M, Zhang Y, Wang J, Jiang W, Huang Q, Li J (2015) Quantification of carbon emissions of the transport service sector in China by using streamlined life cycle assessment. J Clean Prod 95:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frischknecht R, Jungbluth N, Althaus HJ, Doka G, Heck T, Hellweg S, Hischier R, Nemecek T, Rebitzer G, Spielmann M, Wernet G (2007) Overview and methodology: ecoinvent report no. 1. Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Geng Y, Ma Z, Xue B, Ren W, Liu Z, Fujita T (2013) Co-benefit evaluation for urban public transportation sector—a case of Shenyang, China. J Clean Prod 58:82–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes J, Nascimento J, Rodrigues H (2008) Estimating local greenhouse gas emissions - a case study on a Portuguese municipality. Int J Greenh Gas Con 2:130–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez AG, Herrador MA, Asuero A (2005) Uncertainty evaluation from Monte-Carlo simulations by using crystal-ball software. Accred Qual Assur 10:324–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene DL, Howard H, Baker J, lotkin SEP (2011) Reducing greenhouse gas emission from US transportation. Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Arlington, VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Guneralp B, Seto KC (2008) Environmental impacts of urban growth from an integrated dynamic perspective: a case study of Shenzhen, South China. Global Environ Chang 18:720–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao H, Wang H, Song L, Li X, Ouyang M (2010) Energy consumption and GHG emissions of GTL fuel by LCA: results from eight demonstration transit buses in Beijing. Appl Energ 87:3212–3217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hao H, Wang H, Ouyang M (2012) Fuel consumption and life cycle GHG emissions by China’s on-road trucks: future trends through 2050 and evaluation of mitigation measures. Energ Policy 43:244–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IATA (2009) The IATA technology roadmap report. International Air Transport Association, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2010) CO2 emissions from fuel combustion 2010. International Energy Agency (IEA), OECD/IEA, Paris

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2012) Oil & gas security: emergency response of IEA countries (China). International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris

  • IPCC (2014) Climate change 2014: mitigation of climate change. In: Edenhofer O, Pichs-Madruga R, Sokona Y, Farahani E, Kadner S, Seyboth K, Adler A, Baum I, Brunner S, Eickemeier P, Kriemann B, Savolainen J, Schlömer S, von Stechow C, Zwickel T, Minx JC (eds) Contribution of working group III to the fifth assessment. Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York

  • ITF (2010) Transport greenhouse gas emissions 2010. ITF/OECD. International Transport Forum (ITF), Paris

  • Kagawa S, Hubacek K, Nansai K, Kataoka M, Managi S, Suh S, Kudoh Y (2013) Better cars or older cars?: assessing CO2 emission reduction potential of passenger vehicle replacement programs. Global Environ Chang 23:1807–1818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laurent A, Olsen SI, Hauschild M (2012) Limitations of carbon footprint as indicator of environmental sustainability. Environ Sci Technol 46:4100–4108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis AM, Kelly JC, Keoleian GA (2014) Vehicle lightweighting vs. electrification: life cycle energy and GHG emissions results for diverse powertrain vehicles. Appl Energ 126:13–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Lu Y, Zhang J, Wang T (2013) Trends in road freight transportation carbon dioxide emissions and policies in China. Energ Policy 57:99–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lipman T (2011) An overview of hydrogen production and storage systems with renewable hydrogen case studies. Prepared for Clean Energy States Alliance. http://www.cesa.org/assets/2011-Files/Hydrogen-and-Fuel-Cells/CESA-Lipman-H2-prod-storage-050311.pdf

  • Liu Y, Wang Y, Huo H (2013) Temporal and spatial variations in on-road energy use and CO2 emissions in China, 1978-2008. Energ Policy 61:544–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loo B, Li L (2012) Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger transport in China since 1949: implications for developing sustainable transport. Energ Policy 50:464–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKinnon A (2008) CO2 emissions from freight transport: an analysis of UK data. Logistics Research Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • NBSC (2014) Yearbook of China Statistics (1995–2013). National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC), Beijing

  • Olivetti E, Duan H, Kirchain R (2013a) Exploration of carbon footprint of electrical products: guidance document for product attribute to impact algorithm methodology. A publication of the Materials Systems Laboratory. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

  • Olivetti E, Patanavanich S, Kirchain R (2013b) Exploring the viability of probabilistic under-specification to streamline life cycle assessment. Environ Sci Technol 47:5208–5216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ou X, Zhang X, Chang S (2010) Scenario analysis on alternative fuel/vehicle for China’s future road transport: life-cycle energy demand and GHG emissions. Energ Policy 38:3943–3956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen WB, Wesnaes MS (1996) Data quality management for life cycle inventories—an example of using data quality indicators. J Clean Prod 4:167–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quack D, Griebhammer R, Teufel J (2012) Requirements on consumer information about product carbon footprint. Öko-Institut E.V, Freiburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Regmi MB, Hanaoka S (2010) A Framework to evaluate CF from freight transport and policies to reduce CO2 emissions though mode shift in Asia. 3rd International Conference on Transportation and Logistics (T-LOG 2010), Sep. 2010

  • Rodrigue JP (2013) Geographical impacts of the Suez and Panama canals. The Geography of Transport Systems, New York: Routledge, p. 416

    Google Scholar 

  • SBS (2014) Yearbook of Shenzhen Statistics (2004–2014). Statistics Bureau of Shenzhen (SBS), Shenzhen

    Google Scholar 

  • TCSM (2014a) Year book of transportation & communications in Shenzhen (2004–2013). Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality (TCSM), Shenzhen

    Google Scholar 

  • TCSM (2014b) Sector yearly statistic bulletin of transportation and communications (2004–2014). Transport Commission of Shenzhen Municipality (TCSM), Shenzhen

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian Y, Zhu Q, Lai K, Lun Y (2014) Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions of freight transport sector in China. J Transp Geogr 40:43–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xinhua News (2008) China’s 4 trillion yuan stimulus to boost economy, domestic demand. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/09/content_10331324.htm

  • Yan X, Crookes RJ (2010) Energy demand and emissions from road transportation vehicles in China. Prog Energ Combust 36:651–676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin X, Chen W, Eom J, Clarke LE, Kim SH, Patel PL, Yu S, Kyle GP (2015) China’s transportation energy consumption and CO2 emissions from a global perspective. Energ Policy 82:233–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zgola M (2011) A triage approach to streamline environmental footprinting: a case study for liquid crystal displays. Master Thesis: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Zhang S, Wu Y, Liu H, Huang R, Un P, Zhou Y, Fu L, Hao J (2014) Real-world fuel consumption and CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by driving conditions for light-duty passenger vehicles in China. Energy 69:247–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Mehndiratta S, Guo JY, Liu Z (2012) Strategic policies and demonstration program of electric vehicle in China. Transp Policy 19:17–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Shenzhen Science and Technology Plan (no. JCYJ 20140418181958475 and JCYJ20150525092941042) and the Young Faculty Promotion Plan of Guangdong Province (YQ2015139) for funding and support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China

    Huabo Duan, Mingwei Hu & Ruichang Mao

  2. School of Architecture & Built Environment; Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5001, Australia

    Jian Zuo

  3. Smart Cities Research Centre, College of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China

    Huabo Duan, Jian Zuo & Jiasong Zhu

  4. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Qifei Huang

Authors
  1. Huabo Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mingwei Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jian Zuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jiasong Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ruichang Mao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Qifei Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huabo Duan.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zuroren Nie

Electronic Supplementary Material

ESM 1

(DOCX 202 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duan, H., Hu, M., Zuo, J. et al. Assessing the carbon footprint of the transport sector in mega cities via streamlined life cycle assessment: a case study of Shenzhen, South China. Int J Life Cycle Assess 22, 683–693 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1187-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1187-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation