Javier Urchueguía and José Vicente Oliver, researchers from the ICTs Against Climate Change (ICT VS CC) group at the ITACA Institute of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), have presented two innovative reports that analyze traffic and pollution issues in the Valencian Community with an unprecedented level of spatial detail.
Both studies are part of ClimaTIC, a scientific collection that comprehensively addresses the challenges of climate change and pollution through the application of advanced technologies and innovative methodologies.
«These are the first ClimaTIC reports, whose monographs are organized into four key series: sustainable mobility, natural resource management, energy transition, and information systems for climate governance,» the authors explain.
An unprecedented territorial and longitudinal analysis
The study, structured in two volumes, combines both methodological and practical perspectives. The first volume describes various methodologies for estimating emissions from road traffic, highlighting the RACe method, which enables precise analysis adaptable to other regions.
The second volume applies these methodologies to conduct a comprehensive analysis of emissions from three key pollutants—CO₂, NOₓ, and PM₂.₅—between 2010 and 2020. The results include detailed data for the main cities, counties, and provinces of the Valencia Region, offering a comprehensive view of its regional impact.
In this context, the authors stress that road traffic remains one of the main sources of pollution, accounting for more than 60% of emissions in cities such as Valencia.
Although initiatives such as transport electrification and low-emission zones are beginning to mitigate these effects, challenges related to the energy mix and redistribution of emissions remain.
ClimaTIC: Innovation for a Sustainable Future
The ClimaTIC collection is distinguished by its multidisciplinary approach, which makes it possible to analyze the interrelationships between different key areas and provide practical tools for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and air quality improvement.
It is aimed at the scientific community and engineers and is designed to offer practical tools and sustainable solutions to climate change. In collaboration with the Observatory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (OEGEI), the reports integrate data from municipal vehicle inventories and advanced real-time measurement technologies.
This approach makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable mobility policies in a rigorous and evidence-based manner.
«These studies not only strengthen technical knowledge on the impact of traffic and pollution but also provide a clear roadmap for improving public policies,» Urchueguía and Oliver conclude.