Carbon and energy footprint analysis of Hungarian transportation activities using a multi-region input-output model

Abstract

The Hungarian transport sector plays a significant role in economic development. Inland transport, air transport, and water transport are the main three modes of moving people and goods in Hungary. Therefore, these three modes affect the environment by contributing a significant amount of carbon and energy footprint. In the literature, there is no such study that identifies the environmental impacts of the Hungarian transport sector. Therefore, the lifecycle-based carbon and energy footprint impacts of Hungarian transport practices were assessed in this study, which took into account international trading links with the rest of the world. The Hungarian economy was modeled as part of a multi-region input-output (MRIO) life cycle evaluation system, which included 40 major economies, including the Hungarian, United States, China, Russia, and others and the rest of the world (ROW) nations. According to the WIOD database definition, each country's economy comprises 35 major industries. The global system of the world economy is equalized by a total of 1435 sectors (41 × 35 = 1435). The method is unique in that the MRIO model was constructed in a stochastic manner, taking into account global trade-related uncertainties. Using data mining and predictive simulation methods, the investigation focused on top carbon-emitting and energy-consuming sectors and countries. The outcome illustrated that Hungary has the highest overall carbon footprint (CFP) and total energy footprint (EFP) contributions, respectively, with 59.94% and 45.18%. Furthermore, the inland transportation market and electricity, gas, and water supply were found to be the most dominant industries in terms of overall CFP, accounting for 46.32% and 18.35%, respectively. With 34.64% of the overall effects, the coke/refined petroleum/nuclear fuel market has the highest proportion of the total energy footprint. The transportation sector has a significant role in the Hungarian economy because of the unique geographic location of the country. In another word, road and train modes are considered the dominant mode of moving goods in Hungary. Therefore, the inland transportation market is the highest contributor sector to the total share of CFP and ranked second in sharing the EFP.