Category Archives: Environment and Climate

HCT: Do longer trucks affect road safety?

Trials of longer, heavier vehicles have shown that they can help reduce climate impact by increasing transport efficiency. Fewer trucks carrying more cargo in a single consignment use less fuel per tonne of goods transported, which in turn results in lower emissions. Several ongoing projects...

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Iceland’s Highland Roads Facilitate Plant Invasions

A study on Icelandic highland roads found a surge in non-native plants due to human activity and climate change. This poses a threat to Iceland's fragile ecosystems, as invasive species, facilitated by roads and rising temperatures, jeopardize the biodiversity and scenic beauty of the...

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Proposed tax increases for electric cars will increase greenhouse gas emissions

Full toll rates and VAT for electric cars will reduce the profitability of owning electric cars and increase greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in Oslo up to 2030. Photo: Charging electric cars / Shutterstock This is the main conclusion in a new TØI report, commissioned by the...

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The role of public transport within social and planetary boundaries

The way of living today, not least how we travel, put our planet under an unsustainable pressure. The term “planetary boundaries” is developed within earth science, and in short, is a way of expressing how much the planet can tolerate. If we don’t adapt our lifestyle to fit these defined...

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Greener Lighthouses

The goal of the research was to look at more environmentally friendly energy backup power solutions for Iceland´s lighthouses. The practicality of fuel cell solutions was specifically examined, but this research also investigated wind turbine utilization. This research was funded by the Icelandic...

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The risk of road accidents increases as more and more roads become polished

In recent years, there have been a number of serious road accidents due to motorists skidding off the road. The reason is believed to be that the country's roads are becoming increasingly smooth. VTI has investigated the cause of the problem in a pilot study. New designs of studded tyres, a rise...

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Nordic cooperation for increased circularity of textiles

The textile industry is one of the most polluted industries in the world and is estimated to account for ten percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Despite this, clothes and home textiles are not handled according to the waste hierarchy, where priority should be given to prevent generation of...

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Impact of ‘Fit for 55’ on maritime transport costs

The National Institute for Economic Research has given VTI the assignment of estimating the impact of Fit for 55 (the EU's climate policy package) on shipping. The project includes Senior Analyst Inge Vierth, Researcher Axel Merkel, Analyst Joar Lind and research assistants Karin Ek and Emma...

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Noise from shipping spreads widely

As part of the research project SHIPNOISE, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) performs measurements and calculations to assess the possible impact of ship noise on human health. This type of research is common for road, rail and aviation; for example, we know that...

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Electric vehicles cut emissions from goods delivery by 94 per cent

Replacing diesel cars with small electric vehicles virtually eliminated greenhouse gas emissions from goods delivery in downtown Oslo. No conflicts or accidents during the test period occurred, but the efficiency of the logistics was not as good as expected beforehand. These are the main...

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