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Carbon Emissions in Transportation: A Synthesis Framework

Author

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  • Ana Luiza Carvalho Ferrer

    (Industrial Engineering Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 38097, Brazil)

  • Antonio Márcio Tavares Thomé

    (Industrial Engineering Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 38097, Brazil)

Abstract

With the growing concern worldwide regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their impacts on human health and the environment, transportation has become a central theme in their mitigation, responsible for 15% of anthropogenic GHG, 23% of global energy-related, and 8.7 Gt CO 2 -eq emissions. This study’s objective was to comprehensively review the current state of carbon mitigation in the transportation sector. This was conducted through a systematic literature review based on the multi-level perspective of socio-technical transition theory and structural contingency theory. In total, 30 review papers covering 3561 original articles were selected for full-text examination. The main findings were related to the fact that in order to build resilience against climate change, transportation services must adapt to the current scenario and act quickly to avert future changes. Enablers, barriers, benefits, disadvantages, and metrics in carbon emission reduction were identified. A comprehensive framework and a dynamic co-word analysis emphasised the interrelationships among the dimensions of sustainability transition in transportation. Important trade-offs among the transition dimensions are context-dependent and should be adapted to different countries and transport modes to succeed. The study sheds light on the need to investigate mitigation’s often-neglected consequences and disadvantages.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Luiza Carvalho Ferrer & Antonio Márcio Tavares Thomé, 2023. "Carbon Emissions in Transportation: A Synthesis Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-28, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8475-:d:1153803
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    References listed on IDEAS

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