Environmental performance calculations for the Port of Gothenburg - Emissions to the air from Road transports

Abstract

Port of Gothenburg AB and the port conduct the business that requires a permit under the Environmental Code. The most important environmental impact of the business is noise and emissions to the air, ground and water. The purpose of this research was to calculate the emissions to the air caused by the road haulage companies dealing with the Port of Gothenburg. The calculations formed the basis for analyzing the extent to which these road transports effect the environment inside Gothenburg city and its surroundings. The most popular roads used by the transports to and from the port were presented and the negative contributions to the environment in the surrounding areas were stated. The calculations were based on the methodologies and procedures from the Swedish authority of Network for Transport and the Environment (www.ntm.a.se) and real operational data were applied in order to carry out the calculations. In the conclusion an analysis was made as to whether or not the above mentioned road transports had a considerable effect on the environment of the studied area, and what could be done for the balance between the growing business of Port of Gothenburg, and the environmentally strong link in the logistics chains of the port. Some proposals for reducing the negative impacts such as a dry port located in a more environmentally tolerant area may be a topic for further research.