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Transportation Research Procedia 55 (2021) 1090–1097

14th International scientific conference on sustainable, modern and safe transport

The Impact of Emissions on the Environment within the Digital

Economy
Martina Kovacikova*a, Patricia Janoskovaa, Kristina Kovacikovaa
a a a

a
a Universityof Zilina,
University of Zilina, Univerzitna
Univerzitna 8215/1,
8215/1, Zilina
Zilina 010
010 26,
26, Slovakia
Slovakia

Abstract
Abstract

Currently,
Currently, one
one of
of the
the biggest
biggest environmental
environmental problems
problems is
is global
global warming.
warming. The
The category
category that
that directly
directly affects
affects global
global warming are
warming are
greenhouse
greenhouse gases.
gases. In
In this
this context,
context, Carbon
Carbon dioxide
dioxide emissions
emissions are the most
are the most substantial,
substantial, as
as aa result
result of
of which
which the
the earth's
earth's temperature
temperature
has risen
has risen by
by almost
almost 11 degree
degree Celsius
Celsius over
over the
the last
last 100
100 years.
years. The
The paper
paper focuses
focuses on
on the
the comparison
comparison of of European
European Union
Union countries
countries in
in
terms of
terms of Carbon
Carbon dioxide
dioxide pollution
pollution and
and also
also on
on aa detailed
detailed description
description of
of Carbon
Carbon dioxide
dioxide pollution
pollution from
from the
the perspective
perspective of
of the
the
transport sector
transport sector in
in Slovakia.
Slovakia. In
In addition,
addition, the
the paper
paper contains
contains predictions
predictions of
of Carbon
Carbon dioxide
dioxide emissions
emissions development
development from
from the
the point
point
of view
of view of
of two
two scenarios
scenarios applied
applied to
to Slovakia.
Slovakia.

© 2021
© 2021 The
The Authors.
Authors. Published
Published byby ELSEVIER B.V. B.V.
© 2021
This The
is an Authors.
open accessPublished by ELSEVIER
article under ELSEVIER B.V. license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
the CC BY-NC-ND
This
This is
is an
an open
open access
access article
article under
under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
Peer-review under responsibility ofthe
theCC BY-NC-ND
scientific license
committee of (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
the TRANSCOM 2021: 14th International scientific conference
Peer-review
Peer-review under
under responsibility
responsibility of
of the
the
on sustainable, modern and safe transport scientific
scientific committee
committee of
of the
the TRANSCOM 2021:
TRANSCOM 2021: 14th
14th International
International scientific
scientific conference
conference
on sustainable,
on sustainable, modern
modern and
and safe
safe transport
transport
Keywords: Greenhouse
Keywords: Greenhouse gas,
gas, Carbon
Carbon dioxide
dioxide Emissions,
Emissions, Transport
Transport

1. Introduction
1. Introduction

Greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas is
is any
any gas
gas that
that has
has the
the property
property of
of absorbing
absorbing infrared
infrared radiation
radiation which
which is
is emitted
emitted from
from Earth’s
Earth’s
surface and reradiating it back to Earth’s surface and therefore is contributing to the greenhouse effect. The most
important greenhouse gases are Carbon dioxide, Methane and gaseous phase of water. Greenhouse gases have a
significant effect on the energy budget of the Earth system while being only a small fraction of all atmospheric gases.
Concentrations of greenhouse gases have changed many times during Earth’s history. Carbon dioxide is the most

* Corresponding
* Corresponding author.
author. Tel.:
Tel.: +421/41/5133123.
+421/41/5133123.
E-mail address: martina.kovacikova@fpedas.uniza.sk
E-mail address: martina.kovacikova@fpedas.uniza.sk

2352-1465 ©
2352-1465 © 2021
2021 The
The Authors.
Authors. Published
Published by
by ELSEVIER
ELSEVIER B.V.
B.V.
This
This is
is an
an open
open access
access article
article under
under the
the CC
CC BY-NC-ND
BY-NC-ND license
license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
Peer-review under
Peer-review under responsibility
responsibility of
of the
the scientific
scientific committee
committee of
of the
the TRANSCOM
TRANSCOM 2021: 2021: 14th
14th International
International scientific
scientific conference
conference on
on sustainable,
sustainable,
modern
modern and
and safe
safe transport
transport

2352-1465 © 2021 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the TRANSCOM 2021: 14th International scientific conference on
sustainable, modern and safe transport
10.1016/j.trpro.2021.07.080
 Martina Kovacikova et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 55 (2021) 1090–1097 1091
2 Martina Kovacikova et. al / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000

important greenhouse gas. Human activities increase atmospheric Carbon dioxide levels mostly through the burning
of fossil fuels and production of cement. Fossil fuels are primarily coal and oil and secondarily natural gas which is
used in transportation, electricity production and heating. As a negative factor contributing to higher Carbon dioxide
levels can be also considered the burning of forests and the clearing of land, which results in lower amount of
absorption of Carbon dioxide and therefore it is speeding up the process of global warming (Mann, 2019). Air transport
contributes approximately 1% to global warming as a consequence of CO 2 emissions (Kazda and Caves, 2015).
At the beginning of the new millennium, one of the basic characteristics of the development of society is still its
globalization, which affects all its areas (Majernik et al., 2016). On a global scale, it therefore also affects the field of
transport. Globalization trends are interfering with the increasing need for both passenger and freight transport. The
growth of road passenger and freight transport brings with it not only positives, but also negatives, the greatest of
which is the impact on the environment (Kazda et al., 2013). As a result, numerous technologies are currently being
developed and applied aimed at reducing the negative effects of transport on the environment (MZP SR, 2016).
In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change it is necessary to reduce emissions. Primary reason for global
climate change are Carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing emissions has been one of the biggest international
discussions and the responsibility is being shared between regions, countries as well as individuals (Kazda et al, 2020).
To eliminate those emissions and their negative effects on the environment, it is appropriate to implement digital
technologies and modern trends that are currently offered by the digital economy. In the context of shaping Europe's
digital future, the European Commission is forming a digital transformation strategy that should bring benefits to all,
focus on people and create new opportunities for businesses. The strategy specifies three basic principles:
• technology that works for the benefit of people,
• a fair and competitive digital economy,
• an open, democratic and sustainable society.
Under the three pillars, the European Union's strategy focuses on: investing in Europeans' digital skills, protecting
against cyber threats, properly developing artificial intelligence, strengthening the accountability of digital platforms,
supporting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, regulating European Union rules suitable for the digital
economy using technologies to help Europe become climate neutral, reducing Carbon dioxide emissions, research into
diagnosis and treatment. Digital solutions are an important tool for combating climate change and supporting Europe's
ecological transformation (European Commission, 2020). The idea of the digital technology is that the manufacturing
of products, services, lifelong learning and innovation are made possible by modern technology support transmission
and processing in the context of market globalization and sustainable development (Ciocoiu, 2011).

2. Carbon dioxide Emissions in European Union

The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states. The European Union is a party to both
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement (EU and
climate change, 2020; Sedlackova and Svecova, 2018). For the internal allocation of emissions reductions there are
two different tools being used; the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Effort Sharing Decision
(ESD). ETS covers emissions from power stations, industrial plants and aviation. ETS was launched in 2005 and it
was the first greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. ESD is a legal framework for burden sharing
along the member states for the Kyoto’s Protocol (EU ETS, 2020).
1092 Martina Kovacikova et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 55 (2021) 1090–1097
Martina Kovacikova et. al / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000 3

Fig. 1. European Union Annual Carbon dioxide emissions in 2018 (EEA GGP, 2020).

Since 1980 European Union’s annual Carbon dioxide emissions have a descending trend. Highest Carbon dioxide
emissions ever produced by European Union were in 1979 – 4.09 billion tons (EEA GGP, 2020). In 2018, Carbon
dioxide emissions in European Union were 3.07 billion tons. European Union member states annual Carbon dioxide
emissions in 2018 are shown in the Figure 1. In 2018, highest Carbon dioxide emissions were produced by Germany,
Poland and Italy, on the contrary Latvia, Luxembourg and Malta had the lowest Carbon dioxide emissions. Annual
emissions can be largely influenced by population size and since Luxembourg is a relatively small state in terms of
territory and has also relatively low population size – 602 005 inhabitants as of 2018, Luxembourg has the highest
Carbon dioxide emissions per capita – 15.86 tons in 2018. Germany, as the highest annual producer has 9.13 tons of
Carbon dioxide emissions per capita in 2018. Malta with only 1.58 million tons produced has the lowest rate in
European Union and as well leads with the lowest Carbon dioxide emissions per capita, 3.61 tons, in 2018. In the
same year Slovakia produced 36.03 million tons of Carbon dioxide emissions which is 6.61 tons per capita. Figure 2
shows annual Carbon dioxide emissions of selected countries from 1988 to 2018; three countries with highest annual
Carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, three countries with lowest annual Carbon dioxide emissions in 2018 and Slovakia
(EEA, 2020).
 Martina Kovacikova et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 55 (2021) 1090–1097 1093
4 Martina Kovacikova et. al / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000

Fig. 2. Annual Carbon dioxide Emissions of Selected Countries (EEA, 2020).

3. Carbon dioxide Emissions in Slovakia

In 2018 annual Carbon dioxide emissions in Slovakia were 36.03 million tons. The number of emissions represents
1.17% of European Union annual emissions and 0.10% of the world’s annual emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions
are divided into six sectors: waste, residential and commercial, industrial processes, transport, manufacturing and
construction and land-use change and forestry (Ritchie and Roser, 2020). Annual Carbon dioxide Emissions in
Slovakia by sector in 2018 are shown in Figure 3.
Industrial processes is the sector with the highest production of Carbon dioxide emissions and is followed by
manufacturing and construction sector. Industrial processes have a significant impact on the environment (Stofkova et
al., 2016). It concerns the individual components of the environment, in particular emissions of pollutants into the air,
water, soil and rock environment, the consequences of accidents and the production of industrial waste (MZP SR,
2016). At the same time, in industrial processes there is a consumption of natural resources and land-use (Kubas and
Stofkova, 2018).

Fig. 3. Annual Carbon dioxide Emissions in Slovakia by sector in 2018 (Richie and Roser, 2017).
1094 Martina Kovacikova et al. / Transportation Research Procedia 55 (2021) 1090–1097
Martina Kovacikova et. al / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000 5

4. Carbon dioxide Emissions from Transport in Slovakia

Developments in the production of Carbon dioxide emissions from transport in Slovakia are influenced mainly by
environmentally unfavorable road transport, in particular by individual road transport and freight transport, due to
rising fuel consumption (Korenova, 2020; Garbarova and Strezova, 2015). Carbon dioxide emissions increase in 2018
compared to 2000 was 73.46%. Annual Carbon dioxide Emissions from transport in Slovakia from selected years are
shown in Table 1. (SHMU and MZP SR, 2020).
Emissions of Carbon dioxide from transport have a rising tendency throughout the years 2000 – 2018. In 2018,
road transport produced 98.77%, rail transport 1.13%, air transport 0.04% and water transport 0.06% of CO2
emissions. Emissions from rail and air transport have in overall descending tendency in the monitored years; on the
other hand, emissions from road and water transport are rising from year to year.

Table 1. Annual Carbon dioxide Emissions from Transport in Slovakia (Korenova, 2020).

Year 2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018

Emissions of CO2
4 234 755 6 272 138 6 569 274 7 008 247 7 141 252 7 243 642 7 345 644
from Transport [t]
Emissions of CO2 from
4 077 900 6 159 740 6 481 490 6 913 650 7 046 400 7 151 180 7 255 460
Road Transport [t]
Emissions of CO2 from
154 179 104 570 82 320 84 322 86 533 84 352 82 930
Rail Transport [t]
Emissions of CO2 from
2 650 7 793 5 131 3 655 3 559 3 420 2 850
Air Transport [t]
Emissions of CO2 from
26 35 333 6 620 4 760 4 690 4 404
Water Transport [t]

5. Carbon dioxide Development Prediction

The individual measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have been divided into two groups according to their
character. Measures that are already being implemented were included in the WEM (With existing Measures) scenario.
This means that WEM is the reference scenario for Slovakia and represents a common projection including national
commitments on climate change measures up to 2020. The scenario includes policies already adopted and
implemented and additional policies needed to meet the commitments for renewable energy sources and energy
efficiency of the country in 2020 (MZP SRa, 2019).
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The WAM (With Additional Measures) scenario contains those measures that will be implemented on the basis of
new legislation or are already valid but not yet implemented or have a high chance of adoption. The scenario includes
different ways to achieve different combinations of ambitious targets by 2035 (MZP SRa, 2019).

Fig. 4. Timeseries of emissions of Carbon dioxide from transport sector in Slovakia (EEA GGP, 2020).

The Figure 4. shows that the forecast of the total value of Carbon dioxide emissions by transport sector for 2025 is
calculated according to the WEM scenario in the amount of 8,4 million tons and according to the WAM scenario in
the amount of nearly 7 million tons. In 2035, it is possible to predict a CO2 emissions development in the amount of
approximately 8,7 million tons based on a scenario WEM and in the amount of 6,8 million tons based on the WAM
scenario (EEA, 2020).
Within these projections, future policies were included in the models, which no longer take into account the real
situation, as recent developments are moving towards more ambitious measures in the near future, specifically higher
renewable energy targets and thus increasing the share of biofuels in transport in Slovakia, new European legislation
of the European Commission in the field of transport such as new CO 2 standards and ambitious plans of the European
Commission according to the European Green Agreement (Filcak and Povazan, 2017).

6. Conclusion

Road transport is an economic sector that is growing on a global scale in most indicators, which is creating and
growing the associated negative effects on the environment and the health of the population. Modern technologies,
which are seen as an opportunity to overcome the constraints and threats to sustainable development in a digital
economy, play an important role in achieving a long-term balance between population health and the environment.
Understanding the impact of the digital economy on the environment is important because it provides valuable insights
for identifying and coordinating the development and formulation of environmental policy and strategic objectives.
European Union legislation seeks to minimize these adverse environmental impacts from transport emissions by
setting climate and energy targets by adopting an integrated and ambitious package of policies and measures to combat
climate change (Lubyova and Filcak, 2016).
In March 2020, the European Commission presented a new industrial strategy to help European industry transition
to climate neutrality and the digital economy. The aim of the industrial strategy is to promote Europe's competitiveness
and strategic autonomy. This strategy will be updated in the second quarter of 2021, according to the Commission's
work program. The priorities are achieving climate neutrality by 2050, shaping Europe's digital economy future and
improving the global competitiveness of European industry.
In addition to the growing trend of emissions from transport so far, it is necessary to increase reduction efforts,
either by adopting new additional measures or by implementing existing measures. Measures relating in particular to
Carbon dioxide may include measures for the introduction of low-emission zones in municipalities, including charging
for entry into these zones and the calming of traffic in settlements; setting up financial support mechanisms from the
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Martina Kovacikova et. al / Transportation Research Procedia 00 (2019) 000–000 7

EU and Slovakia so that as many decarbonization measures in the transport sector as possible can be financed,
including the reduction of administrative burdens for project submission; reducing emissions from aviation; reducing
the carbon footprint of urban public transport with available technologies; taking measures to promote individual fuels
in order to achieve low-emission solutions in transport to take into account greenhouse gas emissions from the whole
life cycle of the fuel (MZP SRb, 2019; OP KZP, 2014).
Analyzed data on emissions from transport shows that their largest source is passenger transport. Emissions from
transport can be considered as the product of three broad components: the levels of transport activity, the energy
intensity of transport activity and the energy intensity of energy used in transport for greenhouse gases. Significant
reductions in emissions will require action in all three areas, as technological progress alone is unlikely to reduce them
(MH SR, 2019).

Acknowledgements

This article was undertaken as a part of the research project VEGA 1/0518/19 and KEGA 043ZU-4/2019.

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