UMTRI: GHG emissions from industry down over past 25 years, transportation emissions up; MD, HD truck share increasing substantially
11 July 2016
While the industrial sector in the US has made solid advances in reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the past 25 years, the transportation sector has increased its carbon footprint, according to an analysis by researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).
Industry, still the US’ largest emitter, accounts for about 29% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions—down from nearly 36% in 1990. However, transportation—the country’s second-largest contributor to greenhouse emissions—has increased its share from 24% in 1990 to 27% in 2014.
The relative contributions of the commercial, residential and agricultural sectors have also increased since 1990. Emissions are now about 17% for the commercial sector, 17% for the residential sector and 10% for agriculture.
Within the transportation sector, the relative contribution of emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks to total emissions from all sources increased substantially, while those from passenger cars and light-duty trucks increased only slightly, and those from commercial aircraft stayed about the same.
|
|
| US greenhouse gas emissions by transportation mode as percentages of total emissions, 1990-2014. Sivak and Schoettle. Click to enlarge. |
More specifically, the main findings were:
The relative contribution of passenger cars and light-duty trucks first increased from 63.8% in 1990 to 65.0% in 2003, then decreased, representing 60.7% of transportation emissions in 2014.
The relative contribution of medium- and heavy-duty trucks increased from 14.9% in 1990 to 22.5% in 2014.
The relative contribution of commercial aircraft decreased from 7.1% in 1990 to 6.4% in 2014.
The relative contribution of other aircraft decreased from 5.0% in 1990 to 1.9% in 2014.
The relative contribution of other modes of transportation decreased from 9.1% in 1990 to 8.5% in 2014.
The major finding here is that the relative contribution of medium- and heavy- duty trucks increased substantially compared with other modes of transportation (from 14.9% in 1990 to 22.5% in 2014). This trend is due mostly to the large (76.3%) increase in absolute emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. At the same time, the relative contributions of passenger cars and light-duty trucks, and commercial and other aircraft decreased.
… There are two main implications of this study. First, because of the major progress in reducing emissions from industry during the period examined, we can expect an increased emphasis on reducing emissions from the other economic sectors, including transportation. Second, because of the large increase in the contribution of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to total emissions, we can expect an increased emphasis on reducing emissions from these classes of vehicles.
—Sivak and Schoettle
Resources
Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle (2016) “Transportation Emissions in the Context of Emissions from Other Economic Sectors: 1990-2014” SWT-2016-9
Points out the great need to rid the country of diesel trucks asap and go to hybrids and full electrics.
Posted by: Lad | 11 July 2016 at 06:56 PM
Past time to fix this. What with the entrenched EU OEMs colluding to fix prices and delay emissions, and little progress in making existing trucks more efficient, let's boot them out and embrace a new paradigm - driverless, electric trucks.
Posted by: Opbrid | 24 July 2016 at 11:16 PM