A modified Ecological Footprint method for assessing sustainable transport in the Auckland Region

Abstract

Ecological Footprint (EF) indicator was created by Wackernagel and Rees in 1996. Since its appearance this method has been developed through much research into the detailed weighting of each factor and through using it in case studies. With its improvement more researchers are now using it to understand human impacts on environmental issues and more governments are adopting it as an analytical tool for policy-making. This thesis uses the EF indicator for a detailed analysis of various transport modes in the Auckland Region in 2004. A component EF model is adopted, which involves all EF estimations for each transport mode over its life cycle. The EF components of each mode can be divided into five parts: the EF from fuel consumption for its daily operation, the EF from embodied energy for its manufacture and maintenance, the EF from energy for constructing and maintaining its relevant infrastructures, the EF from energy for operating its infrastructure, and the EF from the physical area of its infrastructures. In this thesis, the modes analyzed in detail are: cars, buses, trains, flights, ferries, motorcycles, bicycles, and walking for passenger transport; HCVs, LCVs, rail freight, airfreight, and sea freight for freight transport; and off-road vehicles, cruise ships, and pleasure craft, bicycle, walking for leisure transport. After calculating these EF components for each mode, the total EF and component EF for every mode can be compared. Hence, a sustainable hierarchy of transport modes in each category can be worked out. This sustainable hierarchy focuses on the eco-burden placed on the earth by transport systems as represented by the EF figure. A component EF method for assessing transport modes has been developed and tested in this thesis. This should be suitable for transport EF analysis in other regions and other nations. Although this thesis has made some detailed contribution to EF methodology, for example, by developing the component model for transport systems and applying it to an analysis of the transport sector, there is still a need for further research. This will especially relate to a more accurate calculation of the embodied energy EF from constructing and maintaining transport infrastructures.