Open AccessConsequences of long-term infrastructure decisions—the case of self-healing roads and their CO2 emissions
Author(s) -
Ana María Rodríguez-Alloza,
Michael Heihsel,
Jacob Fry,
Juan Gallego,
Arne Geschke,
Richard Wood,
Manfred Lenzen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.37
H-Index - 124
ISSN - 1748-9326
DOI - 10.1088/1748-9326/ab424a
Subject(s) - greenhouse gas , asphalt , environmental science , limiting , fossil fuel , climate change , global warming , natural resource economics , life cycle assessment , environmental economics , production (economics) , waste management , engineering , economics , mechanical engineering , ecology , cartography , biology , geography , macroeconomics
What could be the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if the conventional way of maintaining roads is changed? Emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced if global warming is to be avoided, and urgent political and technological decisions should be taken. However, there is a lock-in in built infrastructures that is limiting the rate at which emissions can be reduced. Self-healing asphalt is a new type of technology that will reduce the need for fossil fuels over the lifetime of a road pavement, at the same time as prolonging the road lifespan. In this study we have assessed the benefits of using self-healing asphalt as an alternative material for road pavements employing a hybrid input–output-assisted Life-Cycle Assessment, as only by determining the plausible scenarios of future emissions will policy makers identify pathways that might achieve climate change mitigation goals. We have concluded that self-healing roads could prevent a considerable amount of emissions and costs over the global road network: 16% lower emissions and 32% lower costs compared to a conventional road over the lifecycle.