Japan unveils plans for a CO2-busting conveyor belt road system

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Japan plans a 500 km conveyor belt road between Tokyo and Osaka to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address a truck driver shortage
• The automated, driverless system could transport the same daily cargo as 25,000 trucks

🔭 The context: The project aims to alleviate Japan's logistics crisis exacerbated by an ageing population and new regulations limiting truck drivers' working hours
• Over 90% of Japan's cargo is currently transported by road, with a projected 35% driver shortage by 2030

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Freight transport contributes over 7% of global CO2 emissions
• Japan aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030, and this project could significantly reduce the country's transport-related emissions

⏭️ What's next: The 'Autoflow-Road' could be operational within a decade, costing up to 80 billion yen (€512m) per 10 km
• Other decarbonization efforts, such as using bullet train lines and combining truck and shipping logistics, are also being explored

💬 One quote: “The proposed automated roads will ‘respond to the logistics crisis and reduce greenhouse gases,’ while fully utilising road space,” says MLIT

📈 One stat: The 24-hour ‘Autoflow-Road’ could handle the same cargo volume as 25,000 trucks per day

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