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The Impact of the Freight Transport Modal Shift Policy on China’s Carbon Emissions Reduction

Author

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  • Shuling Chen

    (School of Economics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China)

  • Jianhong Wu

    (School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Yueqi Zong

    (School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

Abstract

How to reduce the negative transport externalities, especially its carbon emissions, without having significant negative influence on economic and social development is the key for sustainable development in China. This paper explores the impacts of China’s recent modal shift policy on carbon emissions, summaries experience from China, and points out future development directions. The paper first compares the different energy consumption and carbon emissions between the road freight transport and the railways in China, and then has a scenarios analysis on China’s energy consumption and carbon emissions of the transport sector in 2025. The latest progress and major problems of modal shift policy in China are presented, and a methodology to address this problem is also proposed. Based on the methodology, we compare the benefits and costs brought by modal shift policy in the case of Ordos, Inner Mongolia. Based on the results, principles and suggestions on how to design and implement more efficient modal shift policy are proposed. We find that road transport is the most polluting mode among various modes of transport, and the railway transport has the least carbon emissions. Furthermore, the modal shift policy plays a positive role in carbon emissions, but the costs caused by the policy are higher than the benefits at some circumstances. Moreover, to achieve the sustainable modal shift policy by relying on the feasible market mechanism, together with scientific and effective regulation, instead of “one size for all” administrative policy, are likely the way forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuling Chen & Jianhong Wu & Yueqi Zong, 2020. "The Impact of the Freight Transport Modal Shift Policy on China’s Carbon Emissions Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:583-:d:308108
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Solaymani, Saeed, 2019. "CO2 emissions patterns in 7 top carbon emitter economies: The case of transport sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 989-1001.
    2. Marsden, Greg & Rye, Tom, 2010. "The governance of transport and climate change," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(6), pages 669-678.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gandhi, Nevil & Kant, Ravi & Thakkar, Jitesh, 2022. "Sustainable performance assessment of rail freight transportation using triple bottom line approach: An application to Indian Railways," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 254-273.
    2. Sara Rogerson & Vendela Santén & Uni Sallnäs, 2021. "The Influence of Power and Trust on the Initiation and Duration of Modal Shift Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Tomasz Neumann, 2021. "Comparative Analysis of Long-Distance Transportation with the Example of Sea and Rail Transport," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Kang, Zhaoxia & Nash, Chris A. & Smith, Andrew S.J. & Wu, Jianhong, 2021. "Railway access charges in China: A comparison with Europe and Japan," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 11-20.
    5. Xiaoyong Wei & Huaixiang Wang, 2025. "Research on China’s Railway Freight Pricing Under Carbon Emissions Trading Mechanism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-31, June.
    6. Cavallaro, Federico & Costa, Carlo & De Biasi, Ilaria & Fabio, Alberto & Nocera, Silvio, 2024. "Sustainable pathways for mitigating externalities in long-distance terrestrial transport," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 207-221.
    7. Willem Haanstra & Alberto Martinetti & Jan Braaksma & Leo van Dongen, 2020. "Design of a Framework for Integrating Environmentally Sustainable Design Principles and Requirements in Train Modernization Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    8. Jiewei Li & Ling Jin & Han Deng & Lin Yang, 2023. "Review on Decarbonizing the Transportation Sector in China: Overview, Analysis, and Perspectives," Papers 2310.00613, arXiv.org.
    9. Zhao, Chuyun & Tang, Jinjun & Gao, Wenyuan & Zeng, Yu & Li, Zhitao, 2024. "Many-objective optimization of multi-mode public transportation under carbon emission reduction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).

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