The City of Johhanesburg held a webnar to talk about transport emissions as a way to work towards low carbon transport.
The webinar was held under the theme “City of Joburg’s actions towards low carbon transport”.
Emissions from the transport sector in South Africa account for 10.8% of the country’s total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. In urban centres, transport is a major contributor to air pollution and emissions including nitrous oxides and particulates, which contribute to the brown haze we see over many of South Africa’s main cities
Opening the seminar, MMC for Environment & Infrastructure Services in the City of Joburg, Tania Old john, said: “The City has implemented a number of projects that are aimed at improving both air quality and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions emanating from the transport sector.
“Some of these interventions include the Rea Vaya BRT project, the recently completed Metro Bus Diesel Dual Fuel (DDF) study, which is aimed at modernising city’s bus fleet with options that are more greener and low-carbon and more.”
Lebo Molefe, the Director Air Quality and Climate Change in the City of Joburg, said: “The City has developed a Paris-Compliant Climate Action Plan (CAP) to achieve carbon neutrality and climate resilience by 2050 and has also developed an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) to manage air quality in the City.
“The achievement of both the CAP and the AQMP will require a strong vertical integration across the different spheres of government and with parties outside government,” Molefe said.
The Climate Action Plan goals include net zero emissions which has different themes including affordable clean energy, optimized energy efficiency in buildings, green transport, alternative waste management, improve water supply and waste water management and more.
Matthew Browning, Senior Policy and Programme Officer: Air Quality Team, City of London, UK said London launched the low emission rule for large and heavy duty vehicles in 2008. This was followed by the launch of the Central London Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) in April 2019. The ULEZ has been successful in significantly and sustainably improving air quality within and around the zone”
“Stakeholder engagement and political leadership is key including undertaking an extensive communication and engagement campaigns to raise awareness, Browning concluded.
Representing the Youth of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Sibusiso Mazomba said: “Young people across the country have been involved in processes, plans and programmes geared towards fostering the urgency that is needed in tackling issues of climate change and recurring emissions from the transport industry. We are pleased with the relationship we have built with the city and other spheres of government, Mazomba added.
The city says it will continue to work on highlighting the impact of the transport sector in contributing to air pollution and to propose solutions that will inform the city’s transition to a sustainable transport mechanism towards the future.
