Africa eyes sustainable transport as clean mobility week ends

Delegates at the end of Africa Mobility week, have adopted recommendations that are workable pathways to a more sustainable and cleaner transport system on the continent. 

They agreed among other things that new roads in cities must be designed with people in mind and not just the vehicles. This should include pedestrian walkways and pavements for motor bikes. 

The Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, Ibrahim Thiaw said clean mobility is not new to Africa, and a change in policies is needed to sustain a cleaner environment on the continent. He noted that Africa should invest in its own vehicles, starting with change in policies.  

Head the transport unit of the UN Environment, Rob de Jong, said while importing used vehicles, Africa should look out for those with cleaner technologies in electric vehicles.

He said while doing that roads should be constructed with pedestrian walk ways and pavements for bikes since the use of electric vehicles will not address traffic jams. Participants approved recommendations to explore the two low-hanging entry points into electric vehicles.

These are deploying electric hybrid buses and two and three wheelers, for public transport. The week was held against background that Africa faces a near tripling number of vehicles from 2010-2050, this comes with negative implications in growth, such as pollution, congestion, energy and resource depletion and environmental degradation. By improving automatic fuel economy some of the negative effects could be address.

GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---