This paper examines a complementary method of reducing carbon dioxide, based on the offsetting of carbon dioxide emissions by non-transport means. The paper first describes a model for considering carbon neutrality (the MAORI model) which includes the steps of Measure, Avoid, Offset, Reduce and Iterate. It then outlines the scale of the land transport task in Australia, followed by an estimation of the greenhouse emissions generated by that land transport task. Selecting one of the possible offset methods, biosequestration in forests, it then estimates what would be required physically to offset the total land transport emissions each year, and the likely cost of these offsets. The paper then considers various ways in which these costs could be met by society. The paper then considers the emissions, and required offsets, for another particular aspect of the transport task; international aviation for flights into and out of Australia. It compares the cost of the required offsets with the economic benefits of tourism, and suggests that carbon neutral air travel may be of economic benefit to Australia. The paper concludes by highlighting that while global warming is a major problem, it would be possible to make major impacts on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector by a relatively small cost spread over the entire population of travelers. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216297.
Abstract