The concept of carbon neutrality - a net zero release of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere - has circulated in our society over the last few decades [1]. The current levels of CO2 emissions have proven links to global warming and climate change. It is also well known that this phenomena is directly connected with the use of fossil fuels in industry, energy production, transportation, agriculture, construction and other human activities. The risk of climate change related natural disasters has seen governments, NGOs and institutions around the world to take actions towards mitigation. In this blog, Dr Fallas-Chinchilla reflects on the hidden environmental costs of transport electrification and asks – what are the environmental costs of the current strategy for offsetting carbon and could we be doing environmentally better whilst striving for carbon neutrality?

In 2008 Costa Rica (my country of birth) embraced an ambitious goal: to become carbon neutral by 2021 [2]. Having a privileged biodiversity, weather and natural resources, Costa Rica’s commitment to renewable energies can be traced back to the late 1800s when electrification works began in the country. Today, Costa Rica runs its electric production almost solely based on renewable energy sources [3]. Hydroelectricity, wind farms, solar panels and geothermal energy are the top renewables.

Globally, a number of policies have been introduced. 189 parties have now ratified The Paris Agreement, which in 2015 set out an international framework for climate change mitigation [4]. CO2 emissions are a key element in these adjustments. European Union’s 2030 Climate and Energy Framework aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions (which includes CO2) by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990. Australia’s target is to reduce emissions to at least 26% on 2005 levels by 2030 [5–7].

Costa Rica’s major obstacle in achieving carbon neutrality is transportation. Cars are by far the commuters’ choice in urban areas, leaving little margin to alternative options such as cycling, walking or public transport. At the same time, logistics and distribution rely on lorries. Public transport improvements and the operation of a modern urban train are being discussed at the moment. When I was growing up, there were almost no traffic jams in Costa Rica as the great majority of people used to commute and travel by bus and train in both urban and rural areas. There were few households with cars and people used to walk and cycle much more. Today, gridlock at rush hour and the ever present hum of idling cars can be found in both urban and rural areas.

Costa Rica is not alone, many cities and metropolitan areas around the world experience high volumes of road traffic. CO2 emissions and the current climate emergency is not the only factor to consider here. Billions of people’s mental and physical health is also at stake. Air quality, commuters’ safety, stress levels and quality of living in general are relevant as well. Societies have moved into a hyper-consumption model where affordable cars, cheap flights and fast fashion can be seen as advantageous - but these play a major role in increasing our collective global carbon footprint.

Policies derived from or in parallel with The Paris Agreement have seen local authorities focusing on transport alternatives. Bans on petrol and diesel cars have been established in cities such as London’s LEZ and ULEZ (Low/Ultralow Emission Zones) [8], while Norway will ban sales of fossil fuel-based cars by 2025 [9]. To date, 23 countries and over 40 cities have plans for phasing-out fossil fuel vehicles (at least partially) at some point in the future, relying on the gradual introduction of electric vehicles [10].

More than a decade ago, my research activities gravitated towards hydrogen storage materials for vehicular applications. Back then it became clear how the massification of electric/hydrogen vehicles comes at a cost. The extraction of crucial metals for electric car batteries such as lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel has sparked a debate on health and safety practices in certain countries as well as the damage caused by mining these minerals to the local environment and associated human rights abuses [11,12].

Batteries’ manufacturing and recharging relies on energy derived principally from fossil fuels, depending on the electricity matrix a country or city has. An article by Politico points out how in the USA the increase of electric vehicles would potentially cause a worsening in air quality in places [13]. Batteries disposal/recycling facilities need to be also part of the conversation as this has the potentially of becoming a waste management problem for the future, as highlighted by a study from the University of Birmingham [14]. Fuel cells for hydrogen vehicles present challenges as well with their life cycle [15]. There are also electrification efforts on aero-engines as aircraft makers are developing small electric “taxis” which must be added into the equation of offsetting and balancing [16].

I have held interesting conversations with fellow engineers regarding electrification, most of the time reaching similar conclusions about electric vehicles and aircrafts: whilst there is an impression of clean energies and zero-emissions, the pollution happens elsewhere.

There is increasing awareness of the need for a greener and more sustainable future. However, there must be a balance between implementing solutions such as electric vehicles and considerations about their impact and life-cycle. Curbing our dependence on fossil fuels is already possible, using alternatives at hand such as remote working (currently brought to us by COVID-19), cycling schemes and efficient public transport. Cities, work places and local authorities have already proposed great ideas and alternatives. In Australia, Melbourne has developed the idea of 20 minutes neighbourhoods, where people can access most places (school, work, health, shops) within a 20 minute walk from home, with additional options such as local transport and safe cycling17. A colleague in Costa Rica is working to implement a similar scheme, with a local council in the reordering of streets for efficient traffic flows, parking, buses and a cycle path. The idea is to develop a framework for other councils to follow.

We need to ensure that in tackling one environmental issue we do not unintentionally cause other irreversible damage to ecosystems, people and the environment. We need to start having difficult conversations and asking questions about what are the hidden costs of transport electrification.

Written by Dr Juan Carlos Fallas Chinchilla

References:

1. What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050? Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050

2. Costa Rica pledges to be ‘carbon neutral’ by 2021. Available at: https://uk.reuters.com/article/costarica-climate-idUKN0728915720070608

3. Costa Rica ran entirely on renewable energy for more than 250 days last year. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/04/costa-rica-ran-entirely-on-renewable-energy-for-more-than-250-days-last-year/#:~:text=It%20was%20the%20second%20year,the%2098.8%25%20achieved%20in%202015

4. Paris Agreement - Status of Ratification. Available at: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/status-of-ratification

5. Paris Agreement - European Comission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/paris_en#tab-0-0

6. 2030 climate & energy framework. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2030_en

7. Australia’s 2030 climate change target. Available at: https://publications.industry.gov.au/publications/climate-change/climate-change/publications/factsheet-australias-2030-climate-change-target.html

8. ULEZ and LEZ services. Available at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/lez-lez-services-37309

9. Norway to ‘completely ban petrol powered cars by 2025’. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/norway-to-ban-the-sale-of-all-fossil-fuel-based-cars-by-2025-and-replace-with-electric-vehicles-a7065616.html

10. Survey of Global Activity to Phase Out Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles. Available at: https://theclimatecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Survey-on-Global-Activities-to-Phase-Out-ICE-Vehicles-FINAL-Oct-3-2018.pdf

11. Congo, child labour and your electric car. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/c6909812-9ce4-11e9-9c06-a4640c9feebb

12. The dirty secret of electric vehicles. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/the-dirty-secret-of-electric-vehicles/

13. Are electric cars worse for the environment? Available at: https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2018/05/15/are-electric-cars-worse-for-the-environment-000660/

14. UK needs to act to prevent electric vehicle battery waste mountain – new study. Available at: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/11/uk-needs-to-act-to-prevent-electric-vehicle-battery-waste-mountain.aspx

15. Chemical cells and fuel cells. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zy2hrwx/revision/2

16. Electric flight. Available at: https://www.airbus.com/innovation/zero-emission/electric-flight.html

17. 20-minute neighbourhoods. Available at: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/planning-for-melbourne/plan-melbourne/20-minute-neighbourhoods

The hidden costs of electrification of transport: could we be doing environmentally better whilst striving for carbon neutrality?