Transport

Explore the Mind Map to learn about the sustainable use of ICT in Transport!

Due to economic globalization the transport sector is growing, together with its global share of greenhouse gas emissions. The development of big international corporations, the outsourcing of production to low-wage labor markets and the resulting long-distance transportation of goods, services and passengers led to the enlargement of the global footprint of the transport sector, which is now responsible for about 14 percent of global emissions [1].

The environmental impact of this sector arises from industrial transport, as well as public and private transport of passengers. In Europe, the biggest part of private transport is made up by leisure trips (40-50%), followed by commuting to and from work (15-25%) and business travel (10-25%) [2]. For every area of transport ICT systems can provide environmental, economic and social benefits, that can support the development of a sustainable economy and society. Emissions savings in the transport sector can be achieved by four basic approaches [3,4]:

• Reduce demand: Reducing the need for transport, for example by telecommuting, or the optimization of logistics and traffic. 
• Change means of transportation: Use of more efficient vehicles, in relation to fuel and space efficiency. 
• Improve efficiency: Reducing the energy demand of transport facilities, like vehicles, airplanes or ships and improve the efficiency of transportation systems. 
• Change type of fuel: Development of alternative engines, that emit less CO2. 

References

[1] The Climate Group. Smart 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age. Technical report, The Climate Group on behalf of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), 2008.

[2] Bio Intelligence Service. Impacts of information and communication technologies on energy efficiency, final  report. ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ict/docs/sustainable-growth/ict4ee-final-report_en.pdf, September 2008. Accessed: 2013-02-12.

[3] B. Metz. Controlling climate change. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

[4] G. Philipson. Ict’s role in the low carbon economy. Technical report, Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), 2010.