University of Michigan releases new transportation emissions report

The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute has released a new report: ‘Transportation emissions in the context of emissions from other economic sectors: 1990 - 2014’.

This report examines long term trends in the contribution of transportation to total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, in the context of the other sources of emissions (industry, commercial, residential and agriculture). Also of interest in this study are the relative contributions of various transportation modes, both to transportation emissions and to total emissions. The period examined was from 1990 through 2014. The raw data came from the US Environmental Protection Agency. The following are the main findings:

• The relative contribution to total emissions of the largest emitter – industry – decreased during the period examined, while those of the transportation, commercial, residential, and agricultural sectors increased.
• 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.

There are two main implications of this study. First, because of the major progress in reducing emissions from industry during the period examined, the Institute expects 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, the Institute expects an increased emphasis on reducing emissions from these classes of vehicles.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/11072016/university-of-michigan-releases-new-transportation-emissions-report-3675/