Ecological Transport Information Tool for Worldwide ... - Schenker

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IFEU Heidelberg, Öko-Institut, IVE, RMCON
Table 1
Environmental impacts included in EcoTransIT World
Abbr. Description Reasons for inclusion
PEC Primary energy consumption Main indicator for resource consumption
CO2 Carbon dioxide emissions Main indicator for greenhouse effect
CO2e Greenhouse gas emissions as CO2-equivalent. CO2e is calculated
Greenhouse effect
as follows (mass weighted):
CO2e = CO2 + 25 * CH4 + 298 * N2O
CH4: Methane
N2O: Nitrous Oxide
For aircraft transport the additional impact of flights in high
distances can optionally be included (based on RFI factor)
NOx Nitrogen oxide emissions Acidification, eutrophication, eco-toxicity,
human toxicity, summer smog
SO2 Sulphur dioxide emissions Acidification, eco-toxicity, human toxicity
NMHC Non-methane hydro carbons Human toxicity, summer smog
Particles Exhaust particulate matter from vehicles and from energy production
and provision (power plants, refineries, sea transport of
primary energy carriers), in EcoTransIT World particles are
quatified as PM 10
Human toxicity, summer smog
Thus the categories land use, noise and depletion of the ozone layer were not taken into
consideration. In reference to electricity driven rail transport the risks of nuclear power generation
from radiation and waste disposal are also not considered. PM emissions are defined
as exhaust emissions from combustion, therefore PM emissions from abrasion and
twirling are not included so far.
Location of emission sources
Depending on the impact category, the location of the emission source can be highly significant.
With regard to those emissions which contribute to the greenhouse effect, the location
for land bound transport modes is not relevant, whereas flights in high altitudes have additional
climatic impacts. Therefore in EcoTransIT World these additional impacts are included
as an option for flights in altitudes over 9 kilometres by using the RFI factor (see chapter
5.5).
Regarding eco-toxicity and human toxicity the following locations of the emission source are
relevant for the impact.
• Road, rail and inland ship: urban vs. rural regions
• Aircraft: airport (taxi out/in, lake off, landing) vs. cruise
• Sea ship: harbour and coast vs. open sea.
In EcoTransIT World this distinction is not yet made, as it would complicate the interpretation
of the results in the current version of the tool. It should be part of a future version.
2.2 System boundaries of processes
In EcoTransIT World, only those environmental impacts are considered that are linked to the
operation of vehicles and to fuel production. Therefore not included are:
EcoTransIT World: Methodology and Data – July 15 th , 2010