Chapter 2: Carbon Emissions

This chapter outlines the basics of estimating the carbon footprint of bridges and introduces the avoid, switch improve hierarchy for carbon reduction. It shows how to make calculations from quantities and carbon factors, cost and emission factors, and by comparison with similar structures. It highlights the need to check calculations, avoid green washing and optimism bias. The chapter considers the product, transport, construction, and capital carbon for new bridges. Operation and maintenance carbon, carbon from energy use, and bridge users are outlined for new and existing assets. From these various carbon estimates the whole life carbon of bridges is considered. Worked example are used at each stage to illustrate methods, checking and likely accuracy. This chapter will assist bridge professionals in addressing the United Nations sustainability goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, and goal 13, climate action.