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CHAPTER INFORMING SUB-
3 NATIONAL ACTIONS:
CASE STUDY OF FREIGHT
TRANSPORT IN GUIYANG
3.1 Introduction 2.3
Greenhouse gas (GHG) in ambient air mainly consists of H2O, CO2,
N2O, CH4, and O3. According to relevant research reports, in recent
years, the increase of GHG in the atmosphere has exerted significant
influence on global climate (Miralga et al. 2009), and the damage to
ecosystems caused by global warming will pose a huge threat to human
security and well-being (Lichterman 1999) in the future. The increasing
GHG concentration in the atmosphere is attributed to the exploitation
and consumption of fossil fuels. With the rapid development of the
automotive industry, the GHG emissions of motor vehicles (mainly
consisting of CO2, CH4, and N2O) account for a large share of fossil fuel
based GHG emissions. Take CO2 for example, the global CO2 emissions
from motor vehicles account for 20 per cent of the fossil fuel based CO2
emission (IEA 2008). The figure is even higher in developed countries.
In the US, the current CO2 emission from the transport sector accounts
for 33 per cent of the total (Kromer et al. 2010). In Europe, the share of
CO2 emission from motor vehicles is 26 per cent. Although we still lack
official data on China’s GHG emissions, the data from the International
Energy Agency show that in 2005, China’s CO2 emission from motor
vehicles accounted for 8 per cent of the total emission, and the figure
is expected to reach 11 per cent by 2030 (MOE 2007). Studies also find
that in some cities in China, the GHG emissions from motor vehicles
account for 85 per cent of the total emissions (Wu and Zhang 2008).
Statistics show that in 2010, there were 199 million motor vehicles
in China, of which 22.02 million or 20 per cent were freight vehicles.
With high annual mileage, freight vehicles contribute significantly to
CO2 emissions, and therefore, the development and deployment of
CO2 emission reduction technologies for these vehicles in China will
have a positive impact on urban GHG emission control and climate
change mitigation.
Besides development of emission reduction technologies, there
is a need for improvement in fuel quality supported by policy
instruments such as fuel standards. In recent years, in addition to
Chapter 3 Informing Sub-national Actions 139
3 NATIONAL ACTIONS:
CASE STUDY OF FREIGHT
TRANSPORT IN GUIYANG
3.1 Introduction 2.3
Greenhouse gas (GHG) in ambient air mainly consists of H2O, CO2,
N2O, CH4, and O3. According to relevant research reports, in recent
years, the increase of GHG in the atmosphere has exerted significant
influence on global climate (Miralga et al. 2009), and the damage to
ecosystems caused by global warming will pose a huge threat to human
security and well-being (Lichterman 1999) in the future. The increasing
GHG concentration in the atmosphere is attributed to the exploitation
and consumption of fossil fuels. With the rapid development of the
automotive industry, the GHG emissions of motor vehicles (mainly
consisting of CO2, CH4, and N2O) account for a large share of fossil fuel
based GHG emissions. Take CO2 for example, the global CO2 emissions
from motor vehicles account for 20 per cent of the fossil fuel based CO2
emission (IEA 2008). The figure is even higher in developed countries.
In the US, the current CO2 emission from the transport sector accounts
for 33 per cent of the total (Kromer et al. 2010). In Europe, the share of
CO2 emission from motor vehicles is 26 per cent. Although we still lack
official data on China’s GHG emissions, the data from the International
Energy Agency show that in 2005, China’s CO2 emission from motor
vehicles accounted for 8 per cent of the total emission, and the figure
is expected to reach 11 per cent by 2030 (MOE 2007). Studies also find
that in some cities in China, the GHG emissions from motor vehicles
account for 85 per cent of the total emissions (Wu and Zhang 2008).
Statistics show that in 2010, there were 199 million motor vehicles
in China, of which 22.02 million or 20 per cent were freight vehicles.
With high annual mileage, freight vehicles contribute significantly to
CO2 emissions, and therefore, the development and deployment of
CO2 emission reduction technologies for these vehicles in China will
have a positive impact on urban GHG emission control and climate
change mitigation.
Besides development of emission reduction technologies, there
is a need for improvement in fuel quality supported by policy
instruments such as fuel standards. In recent years, in addition to
Chapter 3 Informing Sub-national Actions 139
