New Aspects to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Policies for Low Carbon Cities

George Dalianis,Efthimios Zervas,George Xydis,Evanthia Nanaki

doi:10.3390/en9030128

Abstract

Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse gas emitted by vehicles. This study provides estimates of emissions of this important and often not well characterized greenhouse gas (GHG) emission related to transportation energy use. It aims to assist urban community planners and policymakers to prioritize and choose implementation strategies for low carbon cities. The paper focuses on emissions of CH4 from vehicles. Unlike emissions of CO2, which are relatively easy to estimate, emissions of CH4 are a function of many complex aspects of combustion dynamics and depend on the type of emission control systems used. In this context, they cannot be derived easily and instead must be determined through the use of published emission factors for each combination of fuel, end-use technology, combustion conditions, and emission control systems. Emissions of CH4 play a significant role with regards to the relative CO2–equivalent GHG emissions of the use of alternative transportation fuels, in comparison with the use of conventional fuels. By analyzing a database based on literature review this study analyzes all the factors affecting the creation of CH4 emissions from different vehicle types. Statistical analysis indicated “r” values ranging from 0.10 to 0.85 for all vehicles.

Highlights

Air quality constitutes a very important issue for public health, economy and environment.Poor air quality as a result of air pollution is a major environmental health risk, contributing to respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer
As climate change and air pollution stemming in urban areas from Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) are closely linked, it is of great siginficance to investigate all interellations of GHG for a low carbon urban environment
The purpose of this study is to provide an estimation of CH4 emissions of different vehicle types, so as to identify all the factors affecting methane emission, as well as the ratio of methane to total hydrocarbons emissions by passenger cars

Summary

Introduction

Air quality constitutes a very important issue for public health, economy and environment. Poor air quality as a result of air pollution is a major environmental health risk, contributing to respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer. In addition to the health effects, air pollution has considerable economic impacts, cutting short lives, increasing medical costs, and reducing productivity through lost working days across the economy. As climate change and air pollution stemming in urban areas from Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) are closely linked, it is of great siginficance to investigate all interellations of GHG for a low carbon urban environment. In 2010, 82% of all European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions were CO2 –related. About 94% of the carbon dioxide (CO2 ) released to the atmosphere stemmed from combusting fossil fuels and the remaining 6% from industrial processes. Methane is considered a major GHG that accounted for 14%

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