Transport sector's role in combating climate change

Thick smoke pours from the exhaust pile on a car. [Getty Images]

"If you really think that the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money."

These impelling words by American scientist Guy McPherson bring to the fore the entangling relationship between the climate and the economy and the urgent need to activate policies and initiatives to conserve our environment.

While the focus has been on the manufacturing sector, a report by the United Nations shows the transport sector is also a key contributor to green gas emissions. The report shows the transport sector is responsible for approximately one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions with 95 per cent of the world's transport energy still coming from fossil fuels.

For 45 per cent of countries, transport is the largest source of energy-related emissions while for the rest of the countries, it is the second largest.

From floods to droughts to heatwaves to changing temperatures and melting glaciers, climate change is real. With this in mind, all sectors must play their part in averting a crisis threatening mankind.

In this fight, players in the transport cannot be bystanders. They must put in place policies, laws, and regulations and roll out an array of initiatives to combating climate change. Kenya is turning out to be the region's standard-bearer in the push for a revisionist agenda that will break down encumbrances hindering the fight against climate change.

In September, Kenya, in partnership with the African Union, will host the Africa Climate Action Summit bringing together over 10,000 delegates including several heads of state and government. The Nairobi forum will seek to consolidate Africa's voices ahead of the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) to be held in Dubai, as well as craft the continent's green blueprint.

At the ministry level, we are working with partners to reduce green gas emissions. Top of the agenda is adoption of e-mobility which will see a gradual shift from petrol and diesel engine vehicles to electric ones.

Already, there are notable gains in this area with various public transport vehicle sector players including Super Metro, BasiGo, Metro Trans, and Embassava Sacco among others introducing electric buses.
Additionally, over 1,000 electric motorcycles are in operation courtesy of companies like Kiri EV, Bolt, Uber, eWAKKA, Ecobodaa, e-Zuri, Ampersand and Roam.

To encourage this shift, we will implement tax incentives to lower cost of importing these buses and bodabodas. We are also working on policies that will encourage road contractors include a greening component in their construction.

This will encourage planting of trees along major roads and highways to support President William Ruto's 15 billion-tree target in 10 years. We are also working with investors in the roll-out of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) that will use electric buses. Besides ensuring safety of passengers and efficiency, the BRT system will reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

The writer is Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary