Am. Williamson et al., RELIANCE OF BRITISH TRANSPORT ON FOSSIL-FUELS - ASSOCIATED ADVERSE IMPACTS ON AIR-QUALITY, Applied energy, 56(1), 1997, pp. 27-45
Current predictions indicate that by AD 2020, the transport sector in
the UK will consume 41(+/-2)% of total national primary energy demand
with 37.5(+/-2.5)% of this energy being provided by DERV. Economically
recoverable indigenous reserves of petroleum and natural gas will be
exhausted early next century, forcing the UK to rely heavily upon impo
rts of these commodities. The forecasted increases in the latter will
result in a rise in the national rate of CO2 emissions after AD 2000.
It has been estimated that by 2020, approximately 675(+/-55) million t
onnes of CO2 will be emitted annually in the UK, with similar to 30% o
f these arising from transport. The percentage of total SO2 emissions
resulting from the transport sector is also predicted to increase to 1
0% by AD 2020. The recent rise in energy demand by the transport secto
r is also leading to larger emission rates of other atmospheric pollut
ants in the UK. In 1992, transport was responsible for 48%, 48%, 91%,
and 61% of the total national emissions of black smoke, VOCs, CO, and
NOX respectively, with 47%, 46%, 90% and 53% of these respectively res
ulting from road transport. The reliance of transport in the UK on the
use of fossil fuels, which are a declining resource and highly pollut
ing when burnt, must therefore be urgently addressed. (C) 1997 Elsevie
r Science Ltd.