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Behavioural changes in urban mobility in Barcelona due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions

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  • Peters, Corinna

Abstract

This study assesses changes in mobility behaviour in the City of Barcelona due the COVID‐19 pandemic and its impact on air pollution and GHG emissions. Urban transport is an important source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Improving urban mobility patterns is therefore crucial for mitigating climate change. This study combines quantitative survey data and official government data with in‐depth interviews with public administration officials of the City. Data illustrates that Barcelona has experienced an unprecedented reduction in mobility during the lockdown (a 90% drop) and mobility remained at comparatively low levels throughout the year 2020. Most remarkable is the decrease in the use of public transport in 2020 compared to pre‐pandemic levels, whereas road traffic has decreased to a lesser extent and cycling surged at times to levels up to 60% higher than pre‐pandemic levels. These changes in mobility have led to a radical and historic reduction in air pollution, with NO2 and PM10 concentration complying with WHO guidelines in 2020. Reductions in GHG emissions for Barcelona’s transport sector are estimated at almost 250.000 t CO2eq in 2020 (7% of the City’s overall annual emissions). The study derives policy implications aimed at achieving a long‐term shift towards climate‐friendlier, low‐emission transport in Barcelona, namely how to recover lost demand in public transport and seize the opportunity that the crisis brings for reform by further reducing road traffic and establishing a 'cycling culture' in Barcelona, as already achieved in other European cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Peters, Corinna, 2021. "Behavioural changes in urban mobility in Barcelona due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions," OSF Preprints urvn8_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:osfxxx:urvn8_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/urvn8_v1
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    1. Santos, Georgina & Maoh, Hanna & Potoglou, Dimitris & von Brunn, Thomas, 2013. "Factors influencing modal split of commuting journeys in medium-size European cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 127-137.
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