Alberto Maurício Souza Corrêa,
Carlos Eduardo Sanches de Andrade,
Cintia Campos,
Abstract
This work seeks to identify, understand, and analyze laws and regulations from different European Union countries that focus on emissions of greenhouse gases and other atmospheric pollutants by the rail transport sector, both freight and passenger. The search to identify legislation was carried out through the use of artificial intelligence and, subsequently, an active search for documents relevant to the topic was carried out. During the research, data on the topic defined in some European countries were identified, namely – Germany, Spain, France, Holland, Portugal, Switzerland, and finally, also from Brazil. The results of this study highlight the importance and need for a regulatory framework that establishes actions aligned with international environmental policies, especially in response to the growing global emergency related to increased emissions in the transport sector. The analysis reinforces the need for measures that promote rail transport as a sustainable alternative, contributing significantly to reducing emissions and combating climate change on the global stage. Additionally, the study highlights the pivotal role of rail transport in reducing emissions compared to more polluting transport modes, such as road and air transport. It stresses the need for continuous innovation in rail technologies, such as electrification and the adoption of hydrogen-powered trains, which are being explored in countries like Germany and the Netherlands. The research also draws attention to Brazil’s emerging efforts in the rail sector, illustrating a global shift towards more sustainable transport solutions in response to the growing urgency of climate change.
Keywords: Rail transport, greenhouse gas emissions, laws, sustainability
[This article belongs to Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications ]
Alberto Maurício Souza Corrêa, Carlos Eduardo Sanches de Andrade, Cintia Campos. Policies on Emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Other Atmospheric Pollutants by the Railway Transport Sector. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2024; 11(03):14-18.
Alberto Maurício Souza Corrêa, Carlos Eduardo Sanches de Andrade, Cintia Campos. Policies on Emissions of Greenhouse Gases and Other Atmospheric Pollutants by the Railway Transport Sector. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2024; 11(03):14-18. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ttea/article=2024/view=197023
References
- State Railway Safety Agency. [Online]. 2024. Available at https://www.seguridadferroviaria.es/.
- Andrade CES, D’Agosto MA. Evaluation of subway systems in CO2 emissions: comparative analysis of emissions by cars, buses, and subways. Environ Eng Sanitation. 2019; 24: 919–927. doi: 1590/S1413-41522019139710.
- Law nº 14.273, December 23, 2021. Provides for the National Export Culture Plan (PNCE) and the National Export Culture Council (CNCE). Official Gazette of the Union, section 1, Brasília, DF, 24 December. [Online]. Available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2021/lei/l14273.htm.
- Bundes-Immissions schutzgesetz. Federal Ministry of Justice of Germany. [Online]. 2024. Available at https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bimschg/.
- Cipek M, Pavković D, Krznar M, Kljaić Z, Mlinarić TJ. Comparative analysis of conventional diesel-electric and hypothetical battery-electric heavy haul locomotive operation in terms of fuel savings and emissions reduction potentials. Energy. 2021; 232: 121097. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121097.
- D’Agosto MA. Transport, Energy Use, and Environmental Impacts. 1st edition. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: GEN LTC; 2015.
- European Environment Agency. Current situation: energy is at the base of Europe’s climate ambitions. [Online]. European Environment Agency. 2023. Available at https://www.eea.europa.eu/pt/sinais-da-aea/sinais-2022/artigos/situacao-atual-a-energia-esta.
- Hirschy F, Ridard E. A “yes” stronger than expected to the climate law. [Online]. SWI – Swissinfo.ch. 2023. Available at https://www.swissinfo.ch/por/economia/
su%C3%AD%C3%A7os-aprovam-lei-para-proteger-o-clima/48599904. - Horvath A. Environmental assessment of freight transportation in the U.S.. Int J Life Cycle Assess. 2006; 11: 229–239. doi: 1065/lca2006.02.244.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate report 2022 summary: the key findings. [Online]. 2022. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Available at https://climate.selectra.com/en/news/ipcc-report-2022.
- Execution of the Climate Agreement. [Online]. Available at https://www.klimaatakkoord.nl/organisatie/uitvoering-van-het-klimaatakkoord.
- LOI n° 2015-992. Relating to the energy transition for green growth. [Online]. Available at https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000031044385.
- Matinha GHF. Literature Review on Life Cycle Assessment of Greenhouse Gases in Railway Systems. Undergraduate thesis. Goiás, Brazil: Federal University of Goiás; 2024.
- Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. National Plan for Air Quality and Atmospheric Protection. Spain. [Online]. 2013. Available at https://www.miteco.gob.es/
content/dam/miteco/es/calidad-y-evaluacion-ambiental/temas/atmosfera-y-calidad-do-ar/PLAN%20AIRE%202013-2016_tcm30-182392.pdf. - Da Conceição MCG, Rodrigues RAR, Cordeiro FR, Cesário FV, Selva GV, Maria C, et al. International climate change negotiation: The role of Brazil. Sustentabilidade Em Debate. 2019;10:379-95. DOI: 10.18472/SustDeb.v10n3.2019.2796.
- Sustainable accessibility of the Netherlands. For and by everyone. [Online]. 2014. Available at https://www.ns.nl/over-ns/duurzaamheid.
- United Nations. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [Online]. 2015. United Nations. Available at https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda.
- National Energy and Climate Plan – PNEC 2030. [Online]. 2024. Portuguese Environment Agency. Available at https://apambiente.pt/clima/plano-nacional-de-energia-e-clima-pnec.
- PNL 2035. National Logistics Plan 2035. [Online]. 2021. Ministry of Infrastructure, Brazil. Available at https://www.gov.br/transportes/pt-br/assuntos/planejamento-integrado-de-transportes/politica-e-planejamento/ResumoExecutivoPNL2035final.pdf.
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1628. Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official J Eur Union. 2016: L252/53–L252/117. Available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/PT/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R1628&from=SK.
- Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions. [Online]. 2017. International Union of Railways. Available at https://uic.org/sustainability/energy-efficiency-and-CO2-emissions/.
- Global Rail Sustainability Report 2022. [Online] 2022. International Union of Railways. Available at https://img3.uic.org/IMG/pdf/global-rail-sustainability-report-2022.pdf#:~:text=URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fimg3.uic.org%2FIMG%2Fpdf%2Fglobal.
Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications
Volume | 11 |
Issue | 03 |
Received | 03/09/2024 |
Accepted | 16/09/2024 |
Published | 21/09/2024 |