Carbon Emission Factors Identification and Measurement Model Construction for Railway Construction Projects

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Global focus on carbon emissions since the Kyoto Protocol.
• China, the largest emitter, aims for carbon peak by 2030 and neutrality by 2060.
• Transport sector decarbonization is crucial for China's climate goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the urgent need for research on carbon emissions from railway construction projects (RCPs).
• To develop a comprehensive measurement model for RCP carbon emissions, including infrastructure construction.
• To guide practical low-carbon railway development in China.

Main Methods:

• Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify carbon emission factors (CEFs) for RCPs.
• Semi-structured expert interviews to define measurement boundaries.
• Development and empirical validation of a carbon emission measurement model for RCPs.

Main Results:

• Identification and calibration of CEFs specific to RCPs.
• Construction of a measurement model encompassing material production, transportation, and on-site construction stages.
• Empirical validation of the CEFs and the developed measurement model.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a theoretical basis for CEFs and measurement models in railway engineering construction.
• The findings contribute to practical guidance for constructing low-carbon railways.
• Addresses a critical research gap concerning the construction phase emissions of railway infrastructure.