Carbon dioxide emissions from commuter traffic in Xi'an, China

Abstract

This paper analyses the carbon dioxide emissions from home-based commuter traffic in Xi'an, a typical rapidly growing city in China. The results show that increases in car availability, household annual income and the number of parking facilities all increase emissions, while increases in population density and number of public transport routes reduce them. Housing areas separated from the city centre by ring roads are found to be significant contributors to emissions, particularly higher between the second and the third ring roads while lower inside the first ring road. It is also found that the ‘70–20 emissions’ rule exists in Xi'an, which implies high emitters contribute more to emissions, and people working in government emit more than others, which implies that improving the awareness of low-carbon dioxide emission among public servants is important. The findings indicate that the focus of emissions reduction should be on these high emitters, who have car availability and high incomes, work in the government and live outside the downtown districts, along or outside the ring roads, or along radial roads. The findings could be useful for other cities aiming to develop transportation with low carbon dioxide emissions.