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Transportation infrastructures in a low carbon world: An evaluation of investment needs and their determinants

Author

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  • Vivien Fisch-Romito

    (CIRED - centre international de recherche sur l'environnement et le développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Céline Guivarch

    (CIRED - centre international de recherche sur l'environnement et le développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées)

Abstract

Transportation infrastructures will either lock in transportation patterns in CO2 high-emitting modes or foster low-carbon pathways. At the same time, increases in future mobility demand require the rapid development of new infrastructures. Here we quantify investment needs for transportation infrastructures over time to achieve both development and climate objectives. We compared investment needs between world regions and analyzed their main determinants. To do so, we built socioeconomic scenarios with the Imaclim-R integrated assessment model, combining alternatives for model parameters that determine mobility patterns. We then estimated the levels of investment that are consistent with the passenger and freight transportation trends in the different scenarios with and without climate policy. Finally, we used a global sensitivity analysis to identify the determinants of investments in low-carbon scenarios. We find that the expenditure needed for transportation infrastructure is lower in low-carbon pathways than in baseline scenarios. This result holds true at both the global and regional scales and is robust to the uncertainties considered. This overall decrease is brought about in particular by a reduction in transport activity. Rail utilization rates and road construction costs are determining factors for investment in all regions. Modal shift from road to rail can be a lever to reduce investment needs only if combined with action on rail infrastructure occupancy. To obtain a comprehensive assessment of the costs related to the transport sector in a low-carbon world, additional investments not considered in this study related to energy efficiency or alternative fuels use should be integrated.

Suggested Citation

  • Vivien Fisch-Romito & Céline Guivarch, 2019. "Transportation infrastructures in a low carbon world: An evaluation of investment needs and their determinants," Post-Print hal-02131954, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02131954
    DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2019.04.014
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02131954v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Daniels, Chux & AbdulRafiu, Abbas, 2022. "Transitioning to electrified, automated and shared mobility in an African context: A comparative review of Johannesburg, Kigali, Lagos and Nairobi," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    10. Zhu, Lichao, 2023. "Comparative evaluation of CO2 emissions from transportation in countries around the world," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    11. Lou, Jiehong & Yu, Sha & Cui, Ryna Yiyun & Miller, Andy & Hultman, Nathan, 2025. "A provincial analysis on wind and solar investment needs towards China's carbon neutrality," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 378(PA).
    12. Chen, Danling & Li, Yuying & Zhang, Chaozheng & Zhang, Yunlei & Hou, Jiao & Lin, Yaoben & Wu, Shiman & Lang, Yan & Hu, Wenbo, 2024. "Regional coordinated development policy as an instrument for alleviating land finance dependency: Evidence from the urban agglomeration development," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    13. Qian Zhang & Christopher Kennedy & Tao Wang & Wendong Wei & Jiashuo Li & Lei Shi, 2020. "Transforming the coal and steel nexus for China's eco‐civilization: Interplay between rail and energy infrastructure," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1352-1363, December.

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