Calculation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Tourist Vehicles Using Mathematical Methods: A Case Study in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Yerbakhyt Badyelgajy, Yerlan Doszhanov, Bauyrzhan Kapsalyamov, Gulzhaina Onerkhan, Aitugan Sabitov, Arman Zhumazhanov and Ospan Doszhanov ()
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Yerbakhyt Badyelgajy: Department of Environmental Management and Engineering, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev 2, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Yerlan Doszhanov: UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Bauyrzhan Kapsalyamov: Department of Environmental Management and Engineering, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev 2, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Gulzhaina Onerkhan: Department of Chemistry, Chemical Technology and Ecology, Kazakh University of Technology and Business, Yesil District, Kayym Mukhamedkhanov str. 37 A, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Aitugan Sabitov: Department of Analytical, Colloid Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Arman Zhumazhanov: UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Ospan Doszhanov: Department of Automation and Robotics, Almaty Technological University, Tole bi st. 100, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-19

Abstract: The transportation sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and remains a key research focus on emission quantification and mitigation. Although numerous models exist for estimating vehicle-based emissions, most lack accuracy at regional scales, particularly in remote or underdeveloped areas, including backcountry national parks and mountainous regions lacking basic infrastructure. This study addresses that gap by developing and applying a terrain-adjusted, segment-based methodology to estimate GHG emissions from tourist vehicles in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, one of Mongolia’s most remote protected areas. The proposed method uses Tier 1 IPCC emission factors but incorporates field-segmented route analysis, vehicle categorization, and terrain-based fuel adjustments to achieve a spatially disaggregated Tier 1 approach. Results show that carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions increased from 118.7 tons in 2018 to 2239 tons in 2024. Tourist vehicle entries increased from 712 in 2018 to 13,192 in 2024, with 99.1% of entries occurring between May and October. Over the same period, cumulative methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions were estimated at 300.9 kg and 45.75 kg, respectively. This modular approach is especially suitable for high-altitude, infrastructure-limited regions where real-time emissions monitoring is not feasible. By integrating localized travel patterns with global frameworks such as the IPCC 2006 Guidelines, this model enables more precise and context-sensitive GHG estimates from vehicles in national parks and similar environments.

Keywords: tourist vehicles; greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; environmental impacts; carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions; monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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