Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Transportation Sector and Fuel Use
About the measure
The transportation sector is the largest contributor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Minnesota. Emissions from the transportation sector include tail pipe emissions from motor vehicles (cars and trucks) on the road as well as emissions from aviation, rail and marine vehicles. Fuel use is measured by the gallons of fuel sold for transportation purposes, including gasoline and special fuel sold for both highway and aviation. It is reported by the Minnesota Department of Revenue monthly and listed in their Petroleum Tax Report.
Transportation Sector GHG data source: Minnesota Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Fuel Use data source: MN Department of Revenue
Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan: Climate Action
These measures help us gauge how well MnDOT and our partners are doing the following:
- Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan Objective: Climate Action
- These measures help us gauge how well MnDOT and our partners are:
- Advancing a sustainable and resilient transportation system.
- Enhancing transportation options and technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Adapting Minnesota's transportation system to a changing climate.
Where we want to go
Minnesota is working towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all sectors through state policies, state laws, and federal funding programs. As the largest source of emissions, transportation offers significant opportunities to reduce emissions.
The 2023 Minnesota Carbon Reduction Strategy identified three main approaches for lowering emissions from surface transportation:
- Electrification: Increasing the use of vehicles that produce zero emissions, such as electric vehicles or Biodiesel 100.
- Travel options: Expanding transportation choices beyond driving alone, including walking, biking, transit, car‑sharing, and teleworking.
- Low carbon infrastructure and system management: Designing, building, and maintaining transportation systems using materials and practices that result in lower emissions, such as recycled pavement or snow fences.
The 2026 Minnesota Climate Action Framework builds on these approaches and offers more detailed guidance and actions for cities, counties, agencies and partners throughout Minnesota to reduce emissions in the transportation sector and beyond.
The following are a list of key policies, programs, laws, and legislative workgroups that shape Minnesota’s transportation-related emissions efforts.
Policies
Programs
- Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Carbon Reduction Program funds projects that reduce emissions from on-road highway sources.
Laws
- 216H.02 (Greenhouse gas emissions control)
- 174.01 Subd. 2. (Transportation goals)
- 174.01 Subd. 3. (Greenhouse gas emissions targets)
- 161.178 (Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact Assessment)
- 161.1782 (Transportation Impact Assessment Technical Advisory Committee)
Legislative Workgroups
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature directed the creation of two workgroups focused on reducing transportation related emissions:
- Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact Mitigation Working Group: Developed recommendations for implementing GHG emissions impact assessments for state highway capacity expansion projects before they are added to the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) or a metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
- Clean Transportation Standard Work Group: Examined information gaps and opportunities related to creating a Clean Fuel Standard in Minnesota. This group was jointly convened by the Commissioners of Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation, and the Pollution Control Agency.