Sustainability and EU Road Transport Carbon Emissions from Consumption of Diesel and Gasoline in 2000 and 2018

Article Processing Charge is funded by Government of Andalucia-FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento/Project "Design of strategists to face the impact of COVID-19 on the compliance with the SDGs in Andalusia" Ref. CV20-01172. The authors are grateful to Zamorano, Government of Andalucia and the editorial team of MDPI Applied Sciences, for their support and invitation to submit the paper for this Special Edition.To accomplish the 1.5 degrees C and 2 degrees C climate change targets, the European Union (EU) has set up several policy initiatives. Within the EU, the carbon emissions of the road transport sector from the consumption of diesel and gasoline are constantly rising. (1) Background: due to road transport policies, diesel and gasoline use within the EU is increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and adding to climate risks. (2) Methods: sustainability analysis used was based on the method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (3) Results: to meet its road transport requirements, the EU produces an estimated 0.237-0.245 billion tonnes of carbon per year from its total consumption of diesel and gasoline. (4) Conclusion: if there is no significant reduction in diesel and gasoline carbon emissions, there is a real risk that the EU's carbon budget commitment could lapse and that climate change targets will not be met. Sustainability analysis of energy consumption in road transport sector shows the optimum solution is the direct electrification of road transport.Government of Andalucia-FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento CV20-01172Zamorano, Government of Andaluci

Is It Fair to Treat China as a Christmas Tree to Hang Everybody’s Complaints? Putting its Own Energy Saving into Perspective

China had been the world’s second largest carbon emitter for years. However, recent studies show that China had overtaken the U.S. as the world’s largest emitter in 2007. This has put China on the spotlight, just at a time when the world community starts negotiating a post-Kyoto climate regime under the Bali roadmap. China seems to become such a Christmas tree on which everybody can hang his/her complaints. This paper first discusses whether such a critics is fair by examining China’s own efforts towards energy saving, the widespread use of renewable energy and participation in clean development mechanism. Next, the paper puts carbon reductions of China’s unilateral actions into perspective by examining whether the estimated greenhouse gas emission reduction from meeting the country’s national energy saving goal is achieved from China’s unilateral actions or mainly with support from the clean development mechanism projects. Then the paper discusses how far developing country commitments can go in an immediate post-2012 climate regime, thus pointing out the direction and focus of future international climate negotiations. Finally, emphasizing that China needs to act as a large and responsible developing country and take due responsibilities and to set a good example to the majority of developing countries, the paper articulates what can be expected from China to illustrate that China can be a good partner in combating global climate change.Energy Saving, Renewable Energy, Post-Kyoto Climate Negotiations, Clean Development Mechanism, China, USA

Bridging the Gap Between Energy and Climate Policies in Brazil: Policy Options to Reduce Energy-Related GHG Emissions

Brazil is facing a series of important policy decisions that will determine its energy future over the next several decades, with important implications for the country's economic competitiveness, the well-being of its citizens, and the global climate. The decisions concern the direction of approximately 0.5 trillion U.S. dollars of anticipated investment in energy infrastructure over the next decade -- which can either lock in carbon-intensive infrastructure, or advance Brazil's position as a leader in the low-carbon economy. This report examines Brazil's key energy-related GHG emitting sectors through a climate lens in order to offer recommendations for a more integrated approach that can more effectively reconcile energy and climate needs. It begins with an overview of Brazil's past energy and GHG emissions profiles, current pledges and future trends, and a discussion of the implications for a possible allocation of the remaining global carbon budget. Next, it reviews available scenarios for Brazil's energy-related GHG emissions in order to identify key drivers and results and compare them to a given allocation of the global carbon budget. It then focuses on the top emitting subsectors -- transport, industry, and power generation -- to identify key abatement opportunities. The report concludes with recommendations regarding a portfolio of policies and measures that could achieve both climate and energy objectives

Uncertainty in exhaust emissions from passenger cars; a policy perspective

In Europe the regulations that limit vehicle emissions, the Euro Standards, have failed to effectively tackle pollutant emissions in the real world. This thesis contains an appraisal of the real world emissions of modern European vehicles, which were identified as a major cause of uncertainty in UK policy with respect to compliance with air pollution legislation. The thesis includes key background information on air pollution and its control in the UK and a comprehensive review of the existing literature relating to real world emissions of petrol and diesel passenger cars. The real world emissions performance of modern vehicles was assessed using Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS) data, provided by Emissions Analytics, which included 147 Euro 5 and 6 diesel and petrol vehicles. Comparisons were made to the emissions factors of the recommended air quality transport model of the European Union, COPERT, as well as the Euro standard type approval limits. The potential impact of these real world emissions was also assessed using the UK Integrated Assessment Model to perform scenario analysis up to 2030. Scenarios were used to explore the potential effect of different passenger car emissions factors on total UK NOx (nitrogen oxides) and CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, damage costs and annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Considering the results of these investigations, wider conclusions were drawn as to how policy makers might effectively reduce passenger car related pollution in European towns and cities. A key conclusion of this thesis is that due to the large variability in the real world emissions of vehicles within a single Euro class, policies could be more effect if real world variability was taken into account, as opposed to relying solely on the Euro standard.Open Acces