Estimation of Road Transportation Emissions in Colombia from 2010 to 2021

Abstract

This work aimed to estimate the emissions associated with the transport sector in Colombia during the 2010–2021 period for the following four groups of pollutants: greenhouse gases or GHG (CO2, CH4, N2O), ozone precursors (CO, NMVOC, NOx), acidifying gases (NH3, SO2), and aerosols (PM, BC), based on the data provided by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The estimate of emissions from road transportation was calculated using a standardized method with a top-down approach consistent with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National GHG Inventories and the EEA/EMEP Emission Inventory Guidebook 2019. Total annual emissions and the emissions for regions were estimated, and a comparison was made between estimated emissions and the emissions calculated by the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR). Total annual emissions by road transport showed a progressive increase except for the annual emissions in 2020, which registered a reduction due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The highest yearly emissions were reported in 2021, with the most significant contributions by GHG (33,109.29 Gg CO2, 201.55 Gg CO2 Eq. CH4, and 512.43 Gg CO2 Eq. N2O). The Andean region was the one with the highest contributions of total emissions within the four groups of pollutants (57–66%), followed by the Caribbean (12–20%) and the Pacific region (14–18%). The most-used fuel was gasoline, with an increase of 103% for personal cars and motorcycles throughout the study period. These results contribute to decision-making at local, regional, and national levels regarding energy transition opportunities and strategies to adopt in the transport sector.