CO2 emissions reduction performance of China's HSR based on substitution effect and demand effect

Abstract

Abstract As an important transportation infrastructure and transportation backbone in China, high-speed rail (HSR) plays a critical role in promoting the development of green and low-carbon transportation. Calculating the CO2 emissions reduction performance of HSR will be conducive to promote the CO2 emissions reduction work of the railway. Based on the Dalkic HSR CO2 emissions reduction performance model, by adjusting the HSR CO2 emission factor (CEFHSR), the annual times of departures (T) and other parameters, this study develops a Chinese HSR CO2 emissions reduction performance model. Taking the Beijing-Shanghai HSR as the research object, this study conducts a questionnaire survey to explore the substitution effect and demand effect of HSR on different transportation modes; collects data such as passenger volume, average electricity use and annual times of departures of the Beijing-Shanghai HSR in 2019; and calculates the CO2 emissions reduction performance of the Beijing-Shanghai HSR. This study has two main results: (1) It builds a Chinese HSR CO2 emissions reduction performance model based on substitution effect and demand effect. (2) In 2019, the CO2 emissions of the Beijing-Shanghai HSR are 2 898 233.62 t, the CO2 emissions reduction performance of the Beijing-Shanghai HSR is 17 999 482.8 t, the annual CO2 emissions of the Beijing-Shanghai line in ‘No HSR’ case are 7.2 times as in the 'HSR' case and the PKT of the HSR is 10.2 g/pkm. Based on the research results, this study proposes three CO2 emissions reduction policy suggestions. This study would be helpful for further HSR CO2 emissions reduction research and departments related to railway transportation management to make CO2 emissions reduction policies.