Comparative Analysis of Countries in Terms of Sustainable and Green Transportation Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach

Abstract

The escalating concern regarding irreversible environmental damage has stimulated a global interest in sustainable transportation systems. Green transportation, as a sub-branch of sustainable transportation, aims to enhance economic empowerment of governing bodies, promote active utilization of natural resources, minimize emissions, safeguard the environment, and foster cleaner surroundings. This paper presents a methodology for assessing and comparing countries in terms of sustainable and green transportation using the multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM). The dataset employed for the analysis comprises three primary criteria: environment, transportation, and economy, further divided into eight sub-criteria, encompassing population, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, number of motor vehicles, number of electric vehicles, bicycle usage, share of renewable energy sources, and gross domestic product. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is employed to weigh these criteria, followed by ranking countries through the Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of the Ratio Analysis (MOORA) method. The findings reveal that Holland secures the top rank, while Türkiye ranks last concerning sustainable and green transportation. Based on the comparative results, it is recommended that countries positioned lower in the list can improve their standing by prioritizing various parameters such as bicycle transportation, pedestrian-friendly measures, eco-friendly vehicles, public transportation, energy conservation, and economic strength.