Material and carbon implications of future mobility infrastructure expansion around the world

A new study finds that global mobility infrastructure networks are anticipated to increase rapidly by 2060, driving significant material demand and carbon emissions due to network expansion and maintenance.

The research from REMASS partners BOKU University and IIASA shows that combined demand- and supply-side measures can cut embodied emissions by more than 60% while still meeting infrastructure needs.The most effective strategy involves slowing mobility demand growth through compact, mixed-use urban forms. Additional reductions come from cleaner material production, increased recycling, and decarbonizing industrial energy supplies.

Further, the study makes visible certain trade-offs, such as the high material investment required for railway network expansion to effectively depart from a car-centric pathway with high operational carbon emissions. 

The authors emphasize that choices made now in rapidly urbanizing regions will lock in mobility patterns for decades, particularly due to the long service lives of mobility infrastructures. They conclude that prioritizing efficient urban design, cutting unnecessary travel, and deploying circular economy measures offers the fastest and fairest path to reconcile mobility needs with climate goals.

Read the full paper here.