Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in BRICS and Ways to Reduce Emissions from Rail Transport

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze greenhouse gas emissions from the BRICS countries, as well as ways to reduce emissions from rail transport. Methods: The contribution of the BRICS countries to global greenhouse gas emissions based on an array of statistical data for the period from 1990 to 2019 has been estimated. The value of CO2 emissions per unit of energy produced in the BRICS countries from 1965 to 2021, as well as the sources of CO2 emissions, have been determined. Results: It is shown that the most effective way to combat climate change is to directly reduce emissions. In general, the emissions of the railway industry depend on the level of electrification. However, when assessing not only direct but also indirect emissions, the energy source and its carbon footprint become of primary importance. The development of intermodal transportation in BRICS countries is significant because these routes have the potential to reduce emissions. Carbon regulation leads to a redistribution in the sphere of international freight transportation among BRICS countries. Competitive advantages are increasingly evident in the railway transportation sector. However, this effect depends on the measures taken to adapt to changes in the transportation market by other modes of transportation. Practical significance: Ways to improve the sustainability of transport infrastructure have been formulated. The lowcarbon transport industry in the BRICS countries can be seen as an important component in reducing gross greenhouse gas emissions given the current high level of reliance on fossil carbon fuels and the inertia driven by the long life of fossil fuel infrastructure. Without the use of negative emission technologies, the required costs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be 40 % higher than with the use of negative emission technologies. As part of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by railway transport facilities in the BRICS countries, the following measures can be implemented: direct reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; introduction and implementation of technologies for negative emissions at railway transport facilities, taking into account their geospatial distribution and their specific characteristics; attracting investments and ensuring access to more affordable financing for these projects; integration of climate change mitigation issues into the strategies of transportation companies; further electrification in transportation and transitioning to alternative fuel sources; utilization of digital technologies to optimize transportation systems and reduce the environmental impact of the railway industry.