Skip to main content

Transforming Mobility in Africa through Innovative solutions


Keynote speech, Eng Coletha Ruhamya, Rwanda

A side event on Transforming Mobility in Africa through Innovative solutions was held during the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN)’s 7th Special Session in Nairobi. Its main focus was on cleaner mobility with discussions addressing the role of transport in air pollution, regional progress towards implementing cleaner fuels and vehicles as well as emerging trends to support cleaner mobility on the continent.
The event began with opening remarks from Ms. Juliette Biao, UN Environment Director of the Regional Office for Africa, who emphasized on the important role of air quality to the wellbeing of the African people. She highlighted the danger posed by particulate air pollution which results in respiratory illnesses, diseases and in many cases death. The transport sector, she stated, was a key source of harmful emissions that were a threat to human health. She urged quick action by all stakeholders to address issues of air quality and mobility on the continent.

Aged and polluting school bus in Kenya
“Air quality preservation should be at the center of the environmental protection initiatives of any country,” stated Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, the Director General of the Rwanda Environment Authority (REMA).  In her key note speech she explained that economic development is directly tied to development of industrial and transport sectors, which are big contributors of air pollution. “Air pollution knows no boundaries and affects even those that have not contributed to it as none choose which air to breathe,” she added. Rwanda as a leader in transforming mobility on the continent through innovative solutions in addressing its transport challenges. These include promoting public transport through larger transport buses that have replaced small vans, dedicated pedestrian lanes to facilitate non-motorized transport, reinforcement of vehicle emissions inspection, car free zones and car free days in major cities such as Kigali.
Electric bike in Rwanda. Rights: Electric Moto
Rob De Jong, the Head of the Air Quality and Mobility Unit, made a presentation starting on a positive note: “Africa is already well on its way to cleaner mobility. There are locally available solutions to the continent’s mobility issues.” He presented a progress report outlining a number of steps taken by African countries towards cleaner mobility. This included the move to unleaded petrol by 54 of the 55 countries in Africa, the adoption of low sulphur diesel at 50 ppm or less fuel by 11 countries and the development of cleaner bus fleet strategies in cities such as Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Accra just to mention a few. The UN Environment expressed their continued commitment in working closely with African governments and stakeholders towards cleaner mobility through cleaner fuels and vehicles, fuel economy and sustainable mobility including electrification, automation, shared mobility and non-motorized transport.

The panel discussion brought together one sub-regional body as represented by the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), one national government represented by Mauritius and the civil society represented by the Town and County Planners’ Association of Kenya (TCPAK).

Mr. Bernard Koffi presented the experiences of ECOWAS stating that the sub-region was plagued with an aging vehicle fleet, lack of harmonized clean fuel standards and transport infrastructure challenges. Interventions that are being employed to address these issues are the development of harmonized regional fuel and emissions standards, setting up a regional urban development programme to improve road infrastructure and exploring options for adoption of electric mobility technologies. The Government of Mauritius, as represented by Mr. Dharamraj Deenoo, have made greening the transport sector a key objective. This is done through privatization of vehicle examination centers, modernization of the bus fleet, implementation of a Road Decongestion Programme, implementation of a modern railway system, as well as a host of fiscal measures and incentives. Mr. Evans Mairura of TCPAK presented a town planner’s perspective stating that urban planning was a key component of urban development and cleaner mobility. 

Recommendations

The way forward for African countries and cities is to recognize that the solutions in addressing air quality and mobility challenges are locally available. By harnessing lessons from neighbours and best practices from around the world, the continent is well positioned to achieve cleaner mobility and improved air quality. 

The recommendations put forward were that:
  • African countries need to harmonize efforts towards sustainable mobility across the continent.
  • There is need to invest in research and capacity development to promote clean and appropriate technologies that are affordable to ordinary citizens as well as governments.
  • All stakeholders within the transport and energy sectors need to be engaged as the continent moves towards cleaner mobility. 
  • Dissemination of information to the public needs to be packaged in a way that is relatable to the African audience. For instance, declining air quality should not only be presented as a climate issue but also as a health and socio-economic issue.
  • Public transportation needs to be improved towards accessible and cleaner mobility systems. The process should be well integrated addressing issues of types of fleet, innovative road design and effective taxation mechanisms.
  • Clean mobility should always be a key component of any city planning exercise particularly as regards urban/city master plans. We cannot talk of sustainable, green or smart cities if a clean and efficient transport system is not an integral part of cities development.





Popular posts from this blog

Nairobi's Skyline: A Tale of Two Perspectives in Urban Planning

  The allure of Nairobi’s skyline Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, is renowned for its stunning skyline, a symbol of growth, prosperity, and modernization. It's skyline is a testament to its rapid growth and economic dynamism. Iconic buildings such as the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), the Times Tower, and the new Britam Tower dominate the horizon, symbolizing the city's role as a regional hub for business and commerce. The city’s skyline is often highlighted in promotional materials, showcasing Nairobi as a modern metropolis with immense potential. This view is further complemented by the backdrop of Nairobi National Park, creating a unique juxtaposition of urban and natural landscapes that is rare among world cities. When viewed from a distance, the cityscape presents a breathtaking panorama of towering skyscrapers, contemporary architectural marvels, and a seamless blend of historical and modern structures. However, this captivating view belies a stark c...
Read more...->>

The Cost of Excluding Women: How African countries are limiting their growth

In many African countries, women remain underrepresented in decision-making processes, whether in government, business, community or family leadership. This exclusion is not just a question of equity; it has profound implications for the continent's economic, social, and political development. In contrast, countries with high levels of female participation in decision-making consistently show higher levels of economic growth, improved social outcomes, and more inclusive governance. By failing to fully integrate women into leadership roles, African nations are, in essence, leaving a significant portion of their potential untapped. Economic and social costs of exclusion The exclusion of women from decision-making roles in Africa has measurable economic and social costs. According to a 2021 World Bank report, gender inequality in sub-Saharan Africa results in a $95 billion productivity loss annually. Countries that fail to invest in gender-inclusive policies miss out on the economic b...
Read more...->>

Building the resilience of cities to climate change

Several measures and approaches are being explored to build cities’ and community climate resilience. Examples are adaptive social protection (ASP), green and blue infrastructure investments, conservation of natural areas, managed urban agriculture, deep decarbonisation, and built environment innovations. Adaptive social protection is defined as “a resilience-building approach that combines elements of social protection, disaster risk reduction, and adaptation to climate change to break the cycle of poverty and insecurity of communities by investing in their ability to prepare for, cope with, and adapt to all types of shocks,” including those brought on by climate change and other global challenges.   Cultural and heritage resilience Cultural heritage and resource management have become even more challenging as a result of climate change.  Recent research has focussed on built cultural heritage at risk from climate change events, including decay or even total loss generat...
Read more...->>