Problems in Current Freight Transport

Importance of Transport

According to the International Chamber of Shipping, 11 billion tons of products are shipped annually, resulting in 1.5 tons per person (which is about the weight of an average car) being shipped globally. ^[1]International Chamber of Shipping. “Shipping and World Trade: Driving Prosperity.” https://www.ics-shipping.org/shipping-fact/shipping-and-world-trade-driving-prosperity/. Due to globalization, advances in technology, and changes in commerce such as online shopping, efficient shipping is increasing in demand. Sustainable green shipping is critical in preventing further climate change and other environmental damages. Today, shipping accounts for 7% of global carbon emissions ^[2] “The Carbon Footprint of Global Trade: Tackling Emissions from International Freight Transport.” International Transport Forum, 2015. itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/cop-pdf-06.pdf. and is only expected to rise. The social cost of carbon, or the future harm inflicted by the release of one additional ton of carbon represented in a present monetary value, is 150 USD per ton ^[3] Shindell, Drew T. “The Social Cost of Atmospheric Release.” Climatic Change 130, no. 2 (May 1, 2015): 313–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1343-0.. Shipping alone emits 2.108 x 10⁹ tonnes of carbon as of 2010 ^[4]“The Carbon Footprint of Global Trade: Tackling Emissions from International Freight Transport.” International Transport Forum, 2015. itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/cop-pdf-06.pdf. , which results in a $316.2 billion social cost of carbon, roughly equivalent to the GDP of Norway ^[5]“GDP, PPP (Current International $) | Data.” Accessed November 20, 2021. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?year_high_desc=true.. By 2050, it is estimated that these emissions will more than triple to 8,132 million tonnes, ^{[6] “The Carbon Footprint of Global Trade: Tackling Emissions from International Freight Transport.” International Transport Forum, 2015. itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/cop-pdf-06.pdf.} as illustrated in the graph below.

Environmental Concerns due to Freight Transport

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, freight transport, including maritime shipping, trucking, air transport, and train systems, can damage the environment in many ways ^[8] “The Environmental Effects of Freight.” Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 1997. https://www.oecd.org/environment/envtrade/2386636.pdf., including:

• Contribution to climate change: carbon-intensive fuel systems such as gasoline release greenhouse gases (GHG) can further global warming.
• Air pollution: the release of harmful chemical substances into the air from transportation vehicle exhaust can lead to problems such as acid rain and human health concerns, such as exposure to carcinogenic particles like benzene ^[9] “The Environmental Effects of Freight.” Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 1997. https://www.oecd.org/environment/envtrade/2386636.pdf..
• Noise pollution: noise from high congestion transportation hubs, particularly in urban and port areas can disrupt wildlife and increase serious health side effects in humans such as cardiovascular disease ^[10] “The Environmental Effects of Freight.” Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, 1997. https://www.oecd.org/environment/envtrade/2386636.pdf..
• Water pollution: fuels spills and chemical leakages can contaminate river networks and oceans, causing a host of ecosystem issues.
• Accidents: truck accidents, train derailments, shipping spills and plane crashes pose safety risks and further contaminate the environment.
• Land use and habitat fragmentation: building transport infrastructure frequently involved creating barriers within and destroying habitats in the installation of transportation infrastructure.

Issues regarding economics and human rights are interrelated to the environmental issues due to the freight industry. Some include:

• Port inefficiency: how cargo is moved between ships and trucks, concerning truck and ship congestion
• Ship abandonment: ship owners leave crew and ship stranded at sea, usually due to lack of financial incentive to maintain ship
• Working conditions: truck drivers experience excess workload, stress, variable schedules and sleep patterns ^[11]Apostolopoulos, Yorghos. “Health Survey of U.S. Long-Haul Truck Drivers: Work Environment, Physical Health, and Healthcare Access,” January 2013. https://doi.org/doi:10.3233/WOR-121553.
• Toxic fuels and emissions: sulfur and nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain and smog

While all of these environmental and socio-economic problems due to shipping are significant and to best address the following problem statement:

“How can we improve the long-distance freight transport process to reduce air pollution, particularly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as pollutants such as NOx, SOx, and Particulate Matter (PM), while balancing equity and economic concerns,”

This proposal will focus on freight transport’s contribution to climate change via GHG emissions and inefficiencies that contribute to these economic and social issues. The main focus of this project is freight transport via trucks, ships, and their intersections at ports.

While the details of this proposal are confined to the US, this is due to a lack of time rather than a lack of importance. The same concepts can be adapted to different governments, societies, and technological realities across the world – and they must be, if humanity has any chance in the fight against climate change. The carbon calculations in this proposal are a sobering reminder that even the most ambitious plans are still on the knife edge between success and failure. Another five years of waiting, or a half-hearted attempt that encompasses only a few nations or regions, will not be enough. The time for action is now.