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Potential Reduction in Carbon Emissions in the Transport of Aggregates by Switching from Road-Only Transport to an Intermodal Rail/Road System

Author

Listed:
  • Francisco Javier López-Acevedo

    (Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Nováis, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • María Josefa Herrero

    (Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Nováis, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • José Ignacio Escavy Fernández

    (ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle Profesor Aranguren s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • José González Bravo

    (SODIRA, Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 136, 28007 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Aggregates are the second-most consumed product in the world after water. This geological resource is used as building and construction material, and its production in quarries and delivery to customers generates several environmental problems. Their transport from quarries to consumption points, almost entirely done by truck, also generates impacts such as an increase in traffic and noise and the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Transportation and storage of goods account for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe and will increase significantly by 2050. To mitigate this, the European Union suggested shifting 30% of long-distance road freight to cleaner alternatives, such as rail or waterborne transport. This approach neglects the enormous volume of short-distance freight movement and its impact on achieving the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, the hypothesis to test is whether the use of an intermodal rail/road transport mode, instead of just roads, for the transport of some products can help reduce global CO 2 emissions even for short distances. To test this, this study investigates the carbon emissions (and transport cost reduction) generated by rail/road intermodal aggregate transport for short distances in the Madrid region (Spain), rather than the currently used direct truck transport. An analysis of variables, such as aggregate supply, demand locations and amounts, and road and rail networks, using a geographical information system provides the associated carbon emissions of the different transport alternatives. To obtain a reduction in CO 2 emissions, this study proposes the establishment of intermodal transfer facilities near consumption centers, where materials are primarily transported by rail, with road transport limited to the final delivery to consumption areas. The results anticipate a notable decrease in carbon emissions in aggregate transport and allow the establishment of more efficient and environmentally friendly rail/road intermodal transport that would help to meet the goals of reducing climate change while making the use of aggregates more environmentally friendly.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Javier López-Acevedo & María Josefa Herrero & José Ignacio Escavy Fernández & José González Bravo, 2024. "Potential Reduction in Carbon Emissions in the Transport of Aggregates by Switching from Road-Only Transport to an Intermodal Rail/Road System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9871-:d:1519379
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rui Jiang & Peng Wu & Chengke Wu, 2022. "Driving Factors behind Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in the U.S. Road Transport Sector: A Decomposition Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Mattioli, Giulio & Mathieu, Laurette, 2022. "Banning super short-haul flights: Environmental evidence or political turbulence?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    3. Gandhi, Nevil & Kant, Ravi & Thakkar, Jitesh J., 2024. "Evaluation of benefits due to adoption of enablers of unimodal road to intermodal railroad freight transportation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 295-311.
    4. Frédéric Dobruszkes & Giulio Mattioli & Laurette Mathieu, 2022. "Banning super short-haul flights: Environmental evidence or political turbulence?," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/351156, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Francisco J. López-Acevedo & María J. Herrero & José I. Escavy & Miguel A. Peláez Fernández, 2024. "Identification of Aggregates Quarries via Computer Vision Analysis as a Tool for Sustainable Aggregates Management and Land Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
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