Mitigation synergy and policy implications in urban transport sector: a case study of Xiamen, China

Abstract

The urban transport sector is one of most significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant (AP) emissions. To achieve co-benefits of GHG and AP emission reductions, a synergistic mitigation approach targeting both climate change and air pollution has gained more attention. In this study, we evaluate mitigation synergy and policy implications for GHGs and nine APs, namely, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5), black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia (NH3), in the transport sector of Xiamen, China, during the 2013-2060 period using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform model and quantitative analysis methods. Results show that light-duty vehicles, river boats, buses and heavy-duty trucks are significant common sources of GHG and AP emissions. Road sector abatement during 2013-2020 was most prominent, especially for CO, NO X , VOCs and GHGs. In this sector, guide green travel (GGT) and adjust energy structure (AES) are dominant measures for mitigation synergy between GHGs and APs. From 2021 to 2060, emission pathways for GHGs, SO2, CO, VOCs and NH3 under optimize transport structure (OTS), AES and GGT scenarios will decrease markedly. Their emissions will peak soon relative to those under business as usual scenario. Additionally, the potential of mitigation synergy may mainly be attributed to the road and shipping sectors under AES scenario, which is the most effective in reducing PM10, PM2.5, BC and OC emissions; the mitigation potential under the AES scenario for GHGs and other APs is nearly 1-4 times as high as that under OTS and GGT scenarios. Therefore, mitigation synergy, especially in adjusting the energy structure for the transport sector, is essential for achieving the simultaneous goals of the ‘blue sky’ and ‘carbon peaking and neutrality’.