Climate Impacts of Air Quality Policy: Switching to a Natural Gas-Fueled Public Transportation System in New Delhi

Between 2001 and 2003, public transport vehicles in New Delhi were required to switch their fuel to natural gas in an attempt to reduce their air pollution impacts. This study examines the climatic impacts of New Delhi’s fuel switching policy, and outlines implications for such efforts in rapidly in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2008-08, Vol.42 (16), p.5860-5865
Main Authors: Reynolds, Conor C. O, Kandlikar, Milind
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols
Air Pollutants - chemistry
Air pollution
Air Pollution - legislation & jurisprudence
Air Pollution - prevention & control
Applied sciences
Carbon
Cities
Climate change
Emissions
Environmental impact
Environmental policy
Exact sciences and technology
Fossil Fuels
Greenhouse Effect
India
Natural gas
Natural gas vehicles
Outdoor air quality
Pollution
Public Policy
Public transportation
Studies
Transportation
Vehicle Emissions - prevention & control
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Summary:Between 2001 and 2003, public transport vehicles in New Delhi were required to switch their fuel to natural gas in an attempt to reduce their air pollution impacts. This study examines the climatic impacts of New Delhi’s fuel switching policy, and outlines implications for such efforts in rapidly industrializing countries. Natural gas is mostly composed of methane, an important greenhouse gas. Emitted aerosols (black carbon, particulate organic carbon, and sulfate) also cause radiative forcing. We find that methane and black carbon emissions are critical contributors to the change in carbon dioxide equivalent [CO2(e)] emissions. In New Delhi, the switch to natural gas results in a 30% increase in CO2(e) when the impact of aerosols is not considered. However, when aerosol emissions are taken into account in our model, the net effect of the switch is estimated to be a 10% reduction in CO2(e), and there may be as much as a 30% reduction in CO2(e). There is significant potential for emissions reductions through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism for such fuel switching projects.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es702863p