Examining the Factors Influencing Transport Sector CO2 Emissions and Their Efficiency in Central China

Huali Sun,Mengzhen Li,Yaofeng Xue

doi:10.3390/su11174712

Abstract

The fast development of the transport sector has resulted in high energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in China. Though existing studies are concerned with the factors influencing transport sector CO2 emissions at the national level (or in megacities), little attention has been paid to the comprehensive impact of socio-economic, urban form, and transportation development on transport sector carbon emissions and emissions efficiency in central China. This paper examines the comprehensive impact of the transport sector’s carbon emissions from six provinces in central China, during the period from 2005 to 2016, based on the panel data model. The dynamic change of CO2 emissions efficiency is then analyzed using the Global Malmquist Luenberger Index. The results indicate that, firstly, economic growth, road density, the number of private vehicles, and the number of public vehicles have caused greater CO2 emissions during the study period, while the freight turnover, urbanization level, and urban population density had repressing effects on CO2 emissions. Secondly, an uneven distribution of CO2 emissions and CO2 emissions efficiency was found among different provinces in central China. Thirdly, changes in CO2 emissions efficiency were mainly due to technical changes. Finally, we present some policy suggestions to mitigate transport sector CO2 emissions in central China.

Highlights

The main culprit in global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2), much of which is produced by the combustion of fuel [1]
The present study investigated the effect of socio-economic urban form and transportation development on transport sector carbon emissions in central China, which can play a pivotal role in effective emissions reduction
Massive investment and fast construction allowed Hubei to form a comprehensive transportation hub, which provided a skeleton network of “four vertical, four horizontal, and one ring” highways. These results indicate that low-carbon technological innovation for the transport sector in Hubei has been neglected during the process of transportation development

Summary

Introduction

The main culprit in global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2), much of which is produced by the combustion of fuel [1]. The transport sector emitted around 8000 million tons of CO2, which is about one-quarter of the grand total in 2016. More and more countries and regions developing their transport sectors are trying to cut down on energy consumption and CO2 emissions. America has historically had the highest transport sector CO2 emissions levels of all regions, and this value has persisted in recent years. China is quickly closing the gap, with annual growth rates five times larger than America since 2000. China is the country with the largest increase in transport sector CO2 emissions. Exploring the influencing factors and efficiency of CO2 emissions in the transport sector is the basis of reducing transportation CO2 emissions in China

Objectives

Results

Conclusion