Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
Table 5.1
Combined Benefits of Strategies to Reduce Carbon-Intensive
Travel Activity
GHG Reduction from
Baseline, mmt CO 2e
Percent of All
Transportation Emissions
Year Low High Low High
2030 Combined Benefits 107 366 4.9% 16.9%
2050 Combined Benefits 138 463 6.4% 21.3%
Summary Evaluation
Table 5.2 summarizes the strategies discussed in this section and presents an assessment of
each strategy’s effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and cobenefits, as well as a summary of
key Federal policy initiatives that would be needed to implement the strategy beyond
current levels. The factors presented in the table are rated according to the following
metrics:
• Effectiveness: Low = < 0.5 percent of transportation GHG emissions in 2030 (12 mmt
CO 2e; Moderate = 0.5-2.5 percent (12-60 mmt CO 2e); High = > 2.5 percent (60 mmt
CO 2e);
• Costs: Cost is measured as “net included cost” per metric ton (tonne) of CO 2e reduced. A
positive number represents increased costs, while a negative number represents a net
savings. High Cost = > $200 per tonne CO 2e reduced; Moderate Cost = $20-$200 CO 2e
reduced; Low Cost = < $20/tonne CO 2e reduced; Net Savings = < $0/tonne CO 2e
reduced. Costs for travel activity strategies are presented in two ways:
−
−
Direct costs (implementation costs only) per tonne of CO 2e reduced; and
“Net included costs” (which includes both direct costs and any reported cost
savings, usually vehicle operating costs). A discussion of how costs are calculated
and presented in this report is presented in Appendix A.
• Cobenefits: Plus (+) = significant positive cobenefits; minus (–) = significant negative
cobenefits; plus/minus (+/-) = both significant positive and negative cobenefits; zero (0) =
modest or negligible cobenefits.
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