Atmospheric concentrations of CO₂e are rising due to increasing anthropogenic emissions. Unchecked, rising concentrations of CO₂e in the atmosphere will lead to catastrophic climate change.
Public electricity and heating in Annex I countries accounted for over 6.68 billion tons of CO₂e emissions annually in 2007.
Transport is responsible for approximately 20% of global anthropogenic emissions, or more than 4.63 billion tons of CO₂e annually. Source: UNFCCC, 2009.
Buildings are responsible for an estimated 1.45 billion tons of CO₂e in Annex I nations and over 20% of global anthropogenic emissions annually. Source: UNFCCC, 2009.
Annex I industry emissions are over 1.3 billion tons of CO₂e annually. Global industry emissions account for approximately 24% of annual anthropogenic emissions. Source: UNFCCC, 2009.
Emisisons from agriculture in Annex I countries totaled more than 1.43 billion in 2007 CO₂e emissions.
The EIA estimates that 2006 energy-related emissions from non-OECD countries accounted for approximately 30%, of global anthropogenic CO₂e emissions, or 15.4 billion tons. Source: EIA, 2009.
Biochar could potentially remove over 1 billion tons of CO₂e annually. In general, carbon management solutions could remove billions of tons of CO₂e from the atmosphere annually.
Freight transport has been growing more rapidly than passenger transport and accounts for over 35% of transport energy. The IPCC projected freight transport energy use increasing annually at an average of 2% prior to the 2008 global recession. Under this scenario, emissions would nearly double by 2030.
Freight transport has been growing more rapidly than passenger transport and accounts for over 35% of transport energy. The IPCC projected freight transport energy use increasing annually at an average of 2% prior to the 2008 global recession. Under this scenario, emissions would nearly double by 2030. Trucking is the predominant local and regional freight transport mode and responsible annually for an estimated 2 billion tons of CO2e emissions, or 4% of global anthropogenic emissions. Emissions are increasing as the share of freight handled by trucks increases due to demand for rapid transport and the subsequent shift from rail and regional waterways. Emissions growth is contributing to rising atmospheric concentration of CO2e that leads to catastrophic climate change.
The trucking industry is motivated to adopt efficiency technologies due to fuel costs and competitive pressure. This includes measures to reduce weight and drag through lighter materials and aerodynamic design, respectively. There has been a trend toward using lighter materials in road vehicles, although the efficiency gains are negated in many cases by increased size or performance. There are active research initiatives by the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce drag through aerodynamic design and obtain efficiency gains of 15% to 20% and to enhance engine efficiency, targeting a 10% to 20% efficiency gain.
The use of alternative fuels is an important option for reducing emissions but is less of a near-term imperative for truckers than improving fuel economy and reducing vehicle miles traveled, both of which reduce costs. Measures to decrease energy use and associated CO2e emissions include reduced weight through use of lightweight materials (e.g.
The use of alternative fuels is an important option for reducing emissions but is less of a near-term imperative for truckers than improving fuel economy and reducing vehicle miles traveled, both of which reduce costs. Measures to decrease energy use and associated CO2e emissions include reduced weight through use of lightweight materials (e.g. aluminum to replace steel in trucks), reduced drag through aerodynamic design, engine efficiency, and reduced rolling resistance from tyres. IPCC reports estimates for fuel savings from complete packages of aerodynamic improvements for heavy-duty trucks are 15% to 20%. Estimated engine efficiency gains by 2010 are 10% to 20%, with higher gains possible if more fundamental changes to diesel engines are implemented. These efficiency measures translate into significant emissions reductions.
A set of initiatives – including reduced speeds, improved highways to reduce congestion, fuel efficiency, and optimization of truck routes and cargos – proposed by the American Truckers Association (ATA) aims to achieve significant fuel savings and emissions reductions. The ATA target is to reduce emissions by 900 million tons by 2020. To fully remove carbon from the trucking fleet, a switch to carbon-free fuels would be required.
Even with voluntary efforts underway, standards and monitoring remain important for the industry, and the IPCC reports concern about a gap between tested emissions and on-road emissions – with diesel engines of particular concern
Free-Enterprise Approaches
The trucking industry is under competitive pressure and motivated to consider both fuel economy and reduction in vehicle miles traveled in order to lower costs. The timing is good for introduction to the market of efficiency technologies for trucks, as well as alternative fuels if they can be made available at an attractive price point. Business models that scale to provide efficiency retrofits and new design for trucks are needed. Ensuring the deployment of alternative fuels will likely require policy support, in large part to prevent fluctuations in oil prices from undermining the industry as it gets established.
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