Low Carbon Transport Transitions

Transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with tourism being particularly carbon-intensive due to its reliance on fossil fuels in aviation and motorised transport. Achieving net zero by 2050 requires a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, but emerging solutions face significant scalability and feasibility challenges. Research is essential to identify effective policy pathways, assess their feasibility, and understand travellers' acceptance of low-carbon alternatives to ensure a just and sustainable transition.

Griffith University, in collaboration with international and industry partners, is leading innovative projects to explore and implement low-carbon transport solutions that address these challenges. Read  more about these projects below.

Tourism Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

Dr Abraham Leung is leading an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship (2022–2025) funded project that tackles transport challenges faced by visitors to new destinations, such as fragmented services, limited payment options, and insufficient access to real-time information.

This project, in partnership with micromobility operators (Neuron, Beam), the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and local governments in Brisbane and Townsville, integrates MaaS and micromobility solutions into the tourism sector. By enhancing transport connectivity and tourist experiences, the project is positioning Queensland as a global leader in sustainable, low-carbon tourism.

Publications:

  • Leung, A. (2023). Exploring Regional Queensland MaaS Stakeholder Perspectives through Structural Topic Modelling.
  • Leung, A., Burke, M., & Scott, P. (2023). Tourism MaaS – The Case for Regional Cities. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 49, 101017. DOI:10.1016/j.rtbm.2023.101017
  • Leung, A., et al. (2022). The Best of Both Worlds? Linking Tourism and Transport Functions in MaaS – A Review of Selected European and Asian-Pacific Exemplars. Slides: ICoMaaS Conference
  • Leung, A., & Burke, M. (2021). The Prospects for Tourism-Focused MaaS in Queensland. Australasian Transport Research Forum

Explore our earlier research on MaaS in Queensland regions.

Micro-Mobility and Active Travel for Sustainable Cities, Events and Tourism

Our research highlights the role of micromobility, such as e-scooters, in reducing emissions and boosting economic outcomes for tourism. Studies reveal that visitors using e-scooters adopt greener travel behaviours while spending more locally, fostering both environmental and economic sustainability. Integration of micromobility into urban and tourism infrastructure is vital for facilitating this transition.

Read more:

Publications:

  • Leung, A. (2024). Examining the Use Patterns and Preferences of Privately-Owned Personal Mobility Devices. Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, 15, 3475–3494. DOI:10.11175/easts.15.3475
  • Eccarius, T., Leung, A., et al. (2021). Prospects for Shared Electric Velomobility: Profiling Potential Adopters. Journal of Transport Geography, 96, 103190. DOI:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2021.103190
  • Leung, A. (2018). Alternative Ways to Pay? A Review of Non-Government Sources to Fund Bikeways. Australasian Transport Research Forum

Sustainable Long-Distance Travel and Tourist Dispersal

Griffith is collaborating with international researchers, including Jyväskylä University in Finland and Griffith Aviation, to explore alternative energy sources and modes of travel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for long-distance tourism.

Publications:

  • Ryley, T., Baumeister, S., & Leung, A. (2024). A Comparison of Surface and Air Transport Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Electric Aviation in Finland. 27th ATRS World Conference. [Lisbon, Portugal]
  • Zhu, X., et al. (2023). Using Gini Decomposition to Explore Multidimensionality of Spatial Dispersal for Tourism Promotion – Queensland, Australia. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 28(3), 157–176. DOI:10.1080/10941665.2023.2217953
  • Baumeister, S., & Leung, A. (2021). The Emissions Reduction Potential of Substituting Short-Haul Flights with Non-High-Speed Rail: The Case of Finland. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 9(1), 40–50. DOI:10.1016/j.cstp.2020.07.001
  • Baumeister, S., Leung, A., & Ryley, T. (2020). The Emission Reduction Potentials of First Generation Electric Aircraft in Finland. Journal of Transport Geography, 85, 102730. DOI:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102730

Want to know more?

Dr Abraham Leung

abraham.leung@griffith.edu.au