Carbon Emission Factors Identification and Measurement Model Construction for Railway Construction Projects

Abstract

Carbon emissions have become a focus of political and academic concern in the global community since the launch of the Kyoto Protocol. As the largest carbon emitter, China has committed to reaching the carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 in the 75th United Nations High-level Meeting. The transport sector needs to be deeply decarbonized in China to achieve this goal. Previous studies have shown that the carbon emissions of the railway sector are small compared to highways, waterways, and civil aviation. However, these studies only consider the operation stage and do not consider the carbon emissions caused by large-scale railway infrastructure construction during the construction stage. As an essential source of carbon emissions and the focus of emissions reduction, the carbon emission of railway construction projects (RCPs) is in urgent need of relevant research. Based on a systematic literature review (SLR), this paper sorts out the carbon emission factors (CEFs) related to RCPs; combines semi-structured expert interviews to clarify the carbon emissions measurement boundary of RCPs; modifies and calibrates CEFs; constructs the carbon emission measurement model of RCPs including building material production stage, building material transportation stage, and construction stage; and conducts empirical analysis to validate carbon emission factors and measurement models. This study effectively complements the theoretical research on CEFs and measurement models in the construction stage of railway engineering and contributes to guiding the construction of low-carbon railways practically.

Strategy and Methods for Carbon Emission Mitigation during Construction of Rail Transit

“…The amortized carbon emissions from turnover materials during the production stage include emissions generated from acquiring raw materials, energy consumption for transporting raw materials from acquisition sites to turnover material production plants, emissions generated during the processing and production of turnover materials, amortized emissions offset by recycled portions, and amortized emissions generated during the recycling process of turnover materials. 18 Although the proportion of amortized carbon emissions from turnover materials is small throughout the entire construction process, it is still necessary to reduce emissions, and there is room for reduction. The carbon emission reduction of turnover materials = (carbon emission of turnover material amortization use × improvement rate)/(1 + improvement rate).…”

Environmental Sustainability within Attaining Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Digitalization and the Transport Sector

“…At the same time, Kawasaki [50] underlines that digitalization and R&D allow for reducing the eco-destructive impacts of railway transport on the environment. Based on the analysis of the theoretical framework, scholars [51] confirm that the implication of information technology in railway transport systems at the projecting stage could restrict carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers [52] justify that waterway transport could be the most eco-friendly.…”

The Impact of the Green Economy on Carbon Emission Intensity: Comparisons, Challenges, and Mitigating Strategies

“…Determining the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions presents a substantial challenge. Currently, three principal methods are utilized for quantifying carbon emissions: the carbon emission factor method, the measured method, and the material balance method [7]. The carbon emission factor method estimates carbon emissions based on the consumption of various energy sources and their respective carbon emission coefficients.…”