Greenhouse Gas Inventorying: Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Road Transport in a Central District in Kerala, India

Abstract

The emissions of carbon dioxide from road transport sector in India are exceptionally higher than the targeted standards. Combining information on the extent to which a human activity takes place, that is, fuel consumption, along with the mass of the carbon dioxide emitted per unit of fuel consumed, the emissions of CO2 from the road transport sector is estimated for a central district in Kerala. The results show that about 9, 60, 830 tonnes CO2 released to the atmosphere from January to December 2016. The emissions from diesel contribute 64% (6, 28, 871 tonnes of CO2), whereas the remaining from Petrol. Seasonal-wise variation in fuel consumption was also observed. Average monthly emission in the summer months was highest whereas the emissions in the monsoon months were lowest. The study clearly shows that the amount of carbon dioxide produced each year is massive and stringent policies and technologies should be adopted to limit the GHG emissions.