Change in highway transportation-induced carbon footprint of Kayseri province

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the leading greenhouse gas with the greatest contribution to global warming. Ever-increasing CO2 emissions and atmospheric accumulations result in serious global environmental problems. Limitation of greenhouse gasses causing global warming and keeping them at certain levels are under the responsibility and obligation of entire humanity. Therefore, international treaties and agreements have been established to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to specify the measures to be taken. Kyoto Protocol obligates signatory parties with calculation and mitigation of carbon emissions and brings them emission quotas. Countries should calculate their carbon footprints and create an inventory so as not to exceed the relevant CO2 quotas. Countries can calculate CO2 quantities with the use of various calculation methods. Sector-based CO2 quantities could be calculated with the use of Tier 1, 2, and 3 methods developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the present study, Tier 1 approach was used to calculate the transportation-induced carbon footprint of Kayseri province for CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) gases for the years 2016, 2017, 2018. The total carbon footprint for 2016, 2017, and 2018 was respectively calculated as 1726.4 Gg, 1710.58 Gg, and 1585.87 Gg CO2.