Decarbonising urban transportation

The research paper evaluates strategies to decarbonise urban transportation, focusing on modal shifts, fuel switching, and electricity decarbonisation. Using a Spanish urban area as a model, it finds that aggressive measures—including a 50% reduction in car demand, improved fuel economy, and a shift to nuclear or CCS-equipped power—are necessary to significantly lower emissions and health burdens from particulate matter.

• Transport-related carbon emissions are projected to double by 2050 relative to 2010 levels if no new climate policies are implemented.
• To achieve a reduction of 20% or more in future emissions compared to present levels, aggressive changes are required across vehicle fuel economy (+50%), urban mobility patterns (reduced private car demand), fuel choice (biofuels and electrons), and the electricity generation mix.
• In the base scenario for a Spanish urban area, combining a 25% modal shift from cars to public transport with a switch from diesel to CNG or biodiesel in buses only reduces aggregate carbon emissions by approximately 10%.
• The most significant carbon reductions are achieved through the decarbonisation of the electricity supply; nuclear-based electricity scenarios result in the lowest aggregate emissions.
• Switching to nuclear generation between 2020 and 2030, combined with aggressive transport changes, can reduce carbon aggregate emissions by 46% relative to the base scenario and lower absolute 2050 emissions by 55% compared to 2010.
• Tailpipe emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5) are the primary driver of urban health burdens, accounting for 95% of these impacts.

APA

Spadaro, J. V., Faria, S. H., & Markandya, A. (2013). Decarbonising urban transportation. Basque Centre for Climate Change. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201312131128431813286279.pdf

Chicago

Spadaro, Joseph V., Sérgio H. Faria, and Anil Markandya. Decarbonising urban transportation. Basque Centre for Climate Change, 2013. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201312131128431813286279.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Spadaro |first1=Joseph V. |last2=Faria |first2=Sérgio H. |last3=Markandya |first3=Anil |title=Decarbonising urban transportation |publisher=Basque Centre for Climate Change |date=November 2013 |url=https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201312131128431813286279.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{spadaro2013decarbonising, author = {Spadaro, Joseph V. and Faria, Sérgio H. and Markandya, Anil}, title = {{Decarbonising urban transportation}}, institution = {Basque Centre for Climate Change}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201312131128431813286279.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }