POLICY MECHANISMS TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS FROM COMMUTERS IN GÄVLE, SWEDEN

Abstract

In the municipality of Gävle, Sweden, the transportation sector accounts for as much as one third of total carbon emissions. The main contributors to carbon emissions in transportation are from freight and commuting traffic. This paper focuses on commuter contributions and analyzes policies aimed at reducing the emissions from this source. The analysis is made using TRESIS, a simulation model created by ITLS in Australia. The model is calibrated using data from a transportation survey from 2006 and data from Statistics Sweden, the Swedish agency of statistics. The results of this study indicate that reducing the cost of public transportation would probably initiate a shift towards the use of buses for commuters; however, this study concludes that even with a significant shift to public transportation, carbon emissions would decrease by less than 1%. Data suggests that improvement in fuel efficiency and electrification of private transportation would bring about the greatest reduction of carbon emissions.