In 2018, buses were by far the public transit mode with the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. During that year, urban buses emitted more than six million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. In contrast, the public transit mode with the lowest GHG emissions was the light rail, with emissions of approximately 388,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent.
Public transport's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States in 2018, by mode
(in 1,000 metric tons of CO₂e)
* Direct emissions are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions that occurred at the vehicle when fuel was consumed. Indirect emissions are CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions that occurred at the power plant when electricity was produced or in the process of producing hydrogen.
** Upstream emissions are GHG emissions that occurred during fuel production and distribution, also called “well-to-pump” emissions.
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NASEM (Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)). (December 31, 2021). Public transport's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States in 2018, by mode (in 1,000 metric tons of CO₂e) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294798/us-public-transport-ghg-emissions-by-mode/
NASEM (Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)). "Public transport's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States in 2018, by mode (in 1,000 metric tons of CO₂e)." Chart. December 31, 2021. Statista. Accessed September 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294798/us-public-transport-ghg-emissions-by-mode/
NASEM (Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)). (2021). Public transport's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States in 2018, by mode (in 1,000 metric tons of CO₂e). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294798/us-public-transport-ghg-emissions-by-mode/
NASEM (Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)). "Public Transport's Greenhouse Gas (Ghg) Emissions in The United States in 2018, by Mode (in 1,000 Metric Tons of Co₂e)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294798/us-public-transport-ghg-emissions-by-mode/
NASEM (Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)), Public transport's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States in 2018, by mode (in 1,000 metric tons of CO₂e) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294798/us-public-transport-ghg-emissions-by-mode/ (last visited September 27, 2024)
Public transport's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States in 2018, by mode (in 1,000 metric tons of CO₂e) [Graph], NASEM (Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)), December 31, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294798/us-public-transport-ghg-emissions-by-mode/
