4.2 – Transportation and the Environment
Transportation systems, from infrastructures to vehicle operations, have environmental impacts ranging from noise, the emission of pollutants to climate ...
about 25% of global CO2 emissions
The transport sector, including all modes, accounts for <anchor>about 25% of global CO2 emissions</anchor>, with this share being around 28% for advanced economies such as the United States. Further to these emissions, there are environmental impacts unique to transportation, such as the procurement, refining, and distribution of fossil fuels and noise emitted by transport operations with conveyances and terminals. The growth of passenger and freight mobility has expanded the role of transportation as a source of emission of pollutants. Total emissions are generally a function of the emission factor of each transport mode than their level of activity, which implies a variety of environmental impacts. These impacts fall within three categories:
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Transportation Sector | The Geography of Transport Systems
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Transportation Sector \| The Geography of Transport Systems

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# Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Transportation Sector

[![](https://i0.wp.com/transportgeography.org/wp-content/uploads/greenhouse_transport_sector.png?resize=900%2C372&ssl=1)](https://transportgeography.org/?page_id=15778 "Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Transportation Sector") Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Transportation Sector

_Source: International Energy Association. IEA and IPCC (2014) Summary for Policymakers._

Several activity sectors contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, with **energy generation** being the most significant. Each source of carbon emission is the outcome of specific processes and technologies that cannot be collectively addressed. For instance, carbon emissions derived from electric power generation based on fossil fuels (coal or gas) cannot be mitigated in the same manner as carbon emissions related to cement manufacturing.

Transportation accounts for about 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, with road transportation accounting for three-quarters of this share. Aviation and maritime transportation account for 11%, respectively. Each of the main transportation modes requires its own mitigation strategy.

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[Contents](https://transportgeography.org/contents/ "Contents")›[Chapter 4 – Transport, Energy and Environment](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter4/ "Chapter 4 – Transport, Energy and Environment")›[4.2 – Transportation and the Environment](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter4/transportation-and-environment/ "4.2 – Transportation and the Environment")›
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by the Transportation Sector

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[The Geography of Transport Systems](https://www.routledge.com/The-Geography-of-Transport-Systems/Rodrigue/p/book/9781032380407)

SIXTH EDITION

Jean-Paul Rodrigue (2024), New York: Routledge, 402 pages. ISBN 9781032380407

[DOI: 10.4324/9781003343196](https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003343196)

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### Table of Contents

- [1\. Transportation & Geography](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter1/)
- [2\. Transportation & Spatial Structure](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter2/)
- [3\. Transportation, Economy & Society](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter3/)
- [4\. Transport, Energy & Environment](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter4/)
- [5\. Transportation Modes](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter5/)
- [6\. Transportation Terminals](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter6/)
- [7\. Trade, Logistics & Freight Distribution](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter7/)
- [8\. Urban Transportation](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter8/)
- [9\. Transport Planning & Policy](https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter9/)
- [10\. Challenges for Transport Geography](https://transportgeography.org/contents/conclusion/)
- [A. Methods in Transport Geography](https://transportgeography.org/contents/methods/)
- [B. Applications & Case Studies](https://transportgeography.org/contents/applications/)
- [C. City Logistics](https://transportgeography.org/contents/geography-city-logistics/)

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### Editor

Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Professor of Maritime Business Administration at Texas A&M University - Galveston. His research interests cover transportation and economics as they relate to logistics and global freight distribution. Specific topics include maritime transport systems, global supply chains, gateways and transport corridors.

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