Abstract
Effective solutions are needed to decrease the greenhouse gases emissions of the transport sector, not only in terms of supply-side measures, but also including demand-side solutions. This paper focuses on the passenger demand related to daily commuting, either for work or study purposes. A bottom-up analysis is presented, which draws from detailed data for Lombardy, the most populous region in Northern Italy, to build an estimate of the annual energy consumption and emissions related to commuting. The potential of different measures to decrease emissions is evaluated, including the renovation of the vehicle stock, higher levels of remote working, and the deployment of carpooling schemes. The results show that the largest part of the current emissions from commuting is caused by car use, both due to its higher modal share and to the higher specific emissions, which are in turn also contributed by the low occupancy rates. The renewal of the current vehicle stock can lead to significant emission savings, thanks to both improved efficiency and higher shares of electrification. Remote working could also play a significant part, especially when it is applied to workers that face the longest commuting distances. Conversely, carpooling seems to be providing lower benefits, not so much because of lower effectiveness but more so because of constraints and barriers to its implementation.
Highlights
The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the transport sector are hard to abate, and in different world regions they have increased at a higher pace than in other sectors
The potential contribution of remote working to lower the GHG emissions related to commuting is strongly related to the distribution of this scheme across commuting trips
This paper presents an analysis of daily commuting in Lombardy, which illustrates the mobility demand and its modal share, and estimates the energy consumption and GHG emissions related to commuting
Summary
The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the transport sector are hard to abate, and in different world regions they have increased at a higher pace than in other sectors. In the European Union, transport emissions have continued to rise, despite a large body of regulation that has limited the emission intensity of new vehicles. Global transport emissions are expected to rise steadily in future scenarios [2]. To reach the challenging decarbonization targets ahead, effective strategies in the transport sector need to focus on multiple measures, including a decrease of mobility demand, a modal shift towards collective and active transport modes, an improved energy efficiency of new vehicles, higher load factors, and the use of low-carbon technologies. The transport sector includes a wide range of applications, both in passenger and freight transport, and specific measures are needed to address the characteristics of each transport segment. Passenger demand is driven by multiple purposes, including work and study commuting, family organization, and leisure among the others. Daily commuting represents an important share of total trips, and it is generally responsible for significant impacts in terms of emissions and congestion, especially in morning and evening peak hours
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