GHG emissions in daily travel and long-distance travel in Germany – Social and spatial correlates. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reichert, Alexander; Holz-Rau, Christian; Scheiner, Joachim
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 49(2016)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Built environment -- GHG emissions -- Climate change -- Travel behaviour -- Long-distance travel; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 354.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2016.08.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1361-9209

Abstract

Highlights: Separate and simultaneous analysis of daily trips and long-distance trips. Produced emissions in travel differ much between urban and rural population. Urban dwellers produce less emission from daily, but more from long-distance trips. This is mainly a result of a higher trip frequency, especially by air. Abstract: There is considerable research on the climate effects of daily travel, including research on the spatio-temporal and socioeconomic impact factors of daily travel and associated climate change effects. However, this is less true with respect to long-distance trips. This paper uses national transport survey data from Germany to point out differences in GHG emissions related to demographic, socioeconomic and spatial characteristics for daily and long-distance travel. Daily travel and long-distance travel are investigated simultaneously and separately using Logit and OLS regressions. The results show that transport-related GHG emissions from long-distance trips and daily trips are affected by sociodemographics in largely the same direction. In contrast, spatial attributes, like municipality size or density grade of the region, show a different picture. Per capita emissions in rural and suburban areas are higher for daily trips, but lower for long-distance trips than emissions caused by urban residents. While we cannot rule out the possibility of residential self-selection, our findings challenge the idea that compact urban development may help reduce CO2 emissions once long-distance trips are taken into account.