Transport infrastructure carbon benchmarks
Benchmarks to help estimate whole life carbon impacts at the strategic outline business case stage of a transport infrastructure project.
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These whole life carbon benchmarks show typical amounts of carbon associated with a set of common major transport infrastructure assets. They can be used to estimate the carbon impact of road and rail infrastructure projects at an early stage, before detailed design information is available.
The benchmarks are calculated using a library of infrastructure scheme carbon data.
A methodology note has been published to help explain how to use the benchmarks.
The benchmarks provide a consistent way to:
- set baselines
- compare options
- identify carbon hotspots
They can be used to estimate carbon impacts when preparing a carbon management plan for a strategic outline business case. The benchmarks do not replace detailed carbon assessment tools used later in a project, when more design information is available.
Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned ARUP to develop these benchmarks.
The information in this guidance should be applied alongside:
- guidance on creating a carbon management plan for a transport project
- DfT’s transport business case: assessment and process procedures
- HM Treasury’s business case guidance for projects and programmes
For early-stage infrastructure carbon benchmarks that are specific to local transport scheme assets, see the local transport infrastructure carbon benchmarking tool.