Study warns of alarming rise in CO2

Carbon Dioxide emissions from vehicles in the city will rise by an alarming 2,313% by 2030 if the State adopts a Business As Usual (BAU) mode, predicts a comprehensive Indo-Norwegian project anchored by the IISc.

The research, which took four years to complete, also warns that the Vehicle Kilometres Travelled will double to 48 million within the next 12 years.

The study, “Sustainable transport measures for liveable Bengaluru,” took 2008 as the base year, when CO2 emissions stood at 6,95,617 tonnes / year. In the absence of mitigation policies, this is projected to rise to an absolutely unsustainable 1,67,82,759 tonnes / year by 2030.

But, as the study suggests, this dangerous fall can be reversed through a set of mitigation strategies aimed at reduced traffic congestion (Vehicle Kilometres Travelled-VKT), exhaust emissions (PM, CO, NOX, HC etc.), greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) and reduced carbon emission intensity with respect to GDP growth.

At one extreme, the study found that the total CO2 emission can be reduced by up to 98% by 2030 if a given set of policy bundles and scenarios are adopted. Policies required for this: Increased network coverage of public transport, well-defined car restricted roads, congestion pricing, park and ride, cycling and walking infrastructure, encouragement for car-pooling and high occupancy lanes besides high density mix building use along main transport corridors.