The Role of Freight Transportation in Smart Cities for Advancing the Clean Energy Transition
摘要
This chapter explores the significant impact of logistics and freight transportation on cities, the environment, and the energy transition. Freight and logistics contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 8–10% of worldwide emissions, with freight representing 80% of that share and warehousing 20%. In cities like Paris, urban freight generates a considerable share of CO2, NOx, and particulate matter emissions. The chapter also highlights the specific challenges posed by e-commerce and the discussions over its carbon footprint: While reducing total vehicle-kilometers made for shopping in an urban area, e-commerce deliveries contribute to carbon emissions through packaging, last mile delivery, and the high use of computers. The chapter emphasizes the importance of decarbonizing urban freight vehicles and optimizing the location of urban warehouses to reduce emissions. It discusses the role of urban planning, curb management, and technological innovation, such as electric vehicles and logistics micromobility (e.g., bikes and mopeds), in reducing environmental impact. The issue of data collection and the need for better methods to model freight traffic and emissions is discussed. The chapter presents various strategies for green freight solutions and outlines the potential and challenges for transitioning freight transportation to clean energy in smart cities. Examples from cities like Paris, New York, Rotterdam, and global logistics companies like DHL illustrate the complexities and opportunities in this transition.