Carbon footprint model and low–carbon pathway of inland shipping based on micro–macro analysis

China's inland shipping industry is under urgent pressure to reduce its emissions. Identifying carbon emission sources and estimating carbon emissions from multiple perspectives form the basis for scientifically proposing low-carbon pathways for inland shipping. Carbon footprint assessment models for inland ships were developed from both micro and macro perspectives to assess the carbon emissions of individual ships and fleets. An inland diesel-powered ship was taken as an example to analyse the carbon footprint of LNG (liquid nature gas) and methanol as alternative fuels, and the uncertainty and economy were analysed. The carbon emissions from China's inland shipping in 2019–2020 were studied using an improved turnover method, and the carbon intensities of inland passenger and freight transportation were analysed. Finally, low-carbon pathways for inland shipping were proposed. The results show that the CO2-eq of the LNG scheme was 6.83% and 53.99% less than that of diesel and coal-based methanol, respectively, making it a suitable fuel alternative for ships. CO2 emissions from inland shipping reached 20.924 million tons in 2019, followed by a 0.98% reduction by 2020. The carbon intensity of freight transportation was less than that of passenger transportation; however, the energy consumption carbon intensities of both were approximately equal.