Category Archives: Environment and Climate

Questions abound on microplastics from road traffic

According to an estimate, tyre wear particles accounts for at least half of the Swedish microplastics emissions. While tyre particles are actually rubber, they are often included in the definition of microplastics. In 2017, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) was...

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Using modeling to map out ways to mitigate traffic related particulate matter in Iceland

Exceedances of the health limit for particulate matter (PM10) pollution, due to traffic, occur several times a year in the capital area of Iceland. Because of the adverse health effects of PM10 pollution finding ways to reduce this pollution is very important. To model possible mitigation...

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Environmentally friendly logistics for collection and recycling

VTI is taking a prominent role in two projects in the field of environmentally friendly logistics and sustainable transport: the SATIN* project to increase the circularity of textiles and the SHREK project, which looks at the role of Swedish ports in a circular economy. Large volumes of...

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New method for selecting right climate adaptation measures

Climate change implies that today’s transport systems need to be adapted to changing conditions. In a new project, researchers from VTI will develop a new prioritisation method for selecting measures to reduce the risk of climate-related damage to roads and railways. We can already see how...

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Particles – a problem in enclosed railway environments

From a climate perspective, rail transport in Sweden is sustainable. However, rail traffic can give rise to levels of particles that are harmful to human health. Thanks to various research projects over recent years, VTI has been able to acquire the right knowledge to help address these...

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To impose VAT on electric cars will cut the sales by 50 percent

By imposing VAT on electric cars in Norway the sales will be cut in half and the average CO2 emissions from new cars will increase by about 60 percent. In Norway zero-emission cars constituted 54,3 percent of all new cars purchased in 2020. If electric cars are subject to full VAT sales will...

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TRA VISIONS 2020

TRA VISIONS is a contest for young  and senior researchers in the field of transport in Europe. It is organised every other year on behalf of the European Commission in connection with the Transport Research Arena (TRA) conference. VTI was a partner of the consortium that organised TRA VISIONS...

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EU project to reduce emissions

Road transport is a major source of air pollution that harms human health and the environment. A three-year EU project, in which VTI is participating, aims to achieve a wider societal impact by providing citizens with the knowledge and tools to understand, assess and control their pollutant...

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Electric cars crucial in achieving climate goals

It can be costly, though, because the low costs of electric cars motivate more people to choose car instead of public transport. The result is more queues and crippled public transport infrastructure. Fortunately, it is possible to achieve the climate goals without increasing queues and weakening...

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Additional policy instruments are needed to achieve Swedish environmental quality objectives for maritime transport

Achieving the national and international environmental objectives for maritime airborne emissions requires a combination of new and more powerful policy instruments. The policies already in place are not enough. This is one of the conclusions of a research project, led by VTI, which has now been...

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