| dc.description.abstract | With the rapid urbanisation of society being observed on a global scale, urban mobility is a growing issue and it is becoming increasingly important for cities to develop effective public transportation systems In the case of the city of Oslo, public transportation is heavily prioritised over other transportation methods, such as private cars. This thesis applies the lifecycle assessment framework with a focus on the use phase of the lifecycle to establish the carbon footprint of buses operated in Oslo. Another aspect relates to the evaluation of KPI data as a means of measuring policy advancement. Furthermore, the LCA framework is used to determine the ways in which they are useful to guide policymakers seeking to develop sustainable public transportation. The data analysed in this thesis shows that Ruter is rapidly reducing emissions produced by buses in their network, as well as its overall carbon footprint. This comes as a result of its gradual phasingout of conventional diesel fuel buses, in favour of biodiesel and electric alternatives. This thesis also covers the greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions produced by buses in Oslo. This shows the extent to which It is also clear that the global Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 has had implications on the carbon footprint of buses, especially in terms of ridership statistics. Furthermore, it is theorised that the changes in commuting practices caused by Covid-19 may have longterm implications on public transportation as a whole. Overall, this thesis contextualises the carbon footprint of buses at the use phase, and in doing so aims to contribute to research on this topic. Additionally, it offers some recommendations on best practices both in terms of climate impact reduction, as well as policy development. This thesis utilises a multidisciplinary approach to produce an analysis of public transportation and its carbon footprint through several different perspectives. | |
