By Juliet Akoth
Nairobi, Kenya: In the current times, vehicular emissions have been identified as a significant contributor to air pollution, particularly in major cities across the African continent. Despite this knowledge, many low and middle-income countries are still importing old and polluting vehicles, most of which are unsuitable for operation on Western and European roads.
A recent report, titled “State of Africa’s Environmental Report 2023,” jointly launched by the Indian Research and Advocacy Organization, Centre for Science & Environment (CSE), in collaboration with Kenya’s environmental organization, Media for Science Health & Agriculture (MESHA), emphasized the role of old vehicles as a major source of air pollution. The report covers eight key thematic areas, including biodiversity, climate change, and air pollution.
The report exposes the persistent issue of the influx of discarded, old, used, and inexpensive vehicles from high-income to low-income countries in Africa and other parts of the world. Unfortunately, this concern has been neglected in national and global strategies for air pollution control and climate mitigation, resulting in a mounting accumulation of outdated vehicles in importing markets with limited capacity to address air pollution and environmental impacts.
This is because most of these old vehicles are diesel-fueled. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the WHO has reclassified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen. Diesel exhaust is now in the same class as deadly carcinogens such as asbestos, arsenic, and tobacco for their strong link with lung cancer.
Diesel vehicles also emit several times higher particulate matter and nitrogen oxides than petrol vehicles. Moreover, new science has now implicated black carbon, the dark fraction of particulate matter, in enhancing climate impacts as well. Most of the diesel particulate core is the dark matter that absorbs light and heat warms up the climate and fouls up our lungs.
Countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria have a considerable proportion (80-90%) of their imported fleet made up of used vehicles. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, saw a doubling of its car fleet from 2012 to 2018. This surge in car fleets across many African and South Asian cities is largely fueled by the influx of old imported vehicles.
Speaking during the event, CSE executive director of research and advocacy Anumita Roychowdhury underscored the importance of understanding the nexus between air pollution and climate change. “When we are able to control global air pollutants, then you can actually cut the rate of global warming by nearly half while also preventing 7,000,000 premature deaths,” said the director. This number is the current estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO) of those who lose their lives annually because of air pollution-related causes.
“Air pollution not only affects adults but also unborn children in the womb which shows we are sitting on a time bomb as a continent and more needs to be done,” she said.
In 2021, WHO estimated that approximately 19,000 people lose their lives each year in Kenya due to air pollution. Alarmingly, 70% of pollution levels are recorded in the capital city, with 9 out of 10 people in major Kenyan cities and key towns exposed to air pollution beyond WHO’s set global health standards.
Anumita also highlighted that in Kenya transport emissions account for the highest share of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions at 67 percent in the energy sub-sector emissions, and within the transport sector, 97 percent is from the road, 1 percent from rail and 2 percent is civil aviation.
On a global scale, India, which was initially ranked highest for air pollution, has made substantial efforts to combat the issue by focusing on key cities. New Delhi, for instance, successfully implemented age restrictions for vehicles, promoted public transport running on compressed natural gas, and transitioned from Euro 4 to Euro 6 emission standards within three years, resulting in a significant reduction in air pollution.
EURO 4 emission standards, currently employed in Kenya, demand diesel vehicles to use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 50 ppm (parts per million) while EURO 6 emission standards for diesel vehicles require fuel with a sulphur content of 0 ppm (parts per million). Which means diesel fuel with no sulphur in it.
“In Africa, only Morocco has implemented the regulation of Euro 6 and age limit of 5 years for used cars in the country,” revealed Jane Akumu, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa Focal Director. She emphasized the need for African governments to invest in appropriate road infrastructure, such as bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways, to promote walking and cycling in urban areas instead of heavy vehicle usage.
Mamo Boru Mamo, Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), reiterated Kenya’s commitment to combating air pollution.” It is our collective responsibility to protect the environment,” said Mamo. NEMA plans on setting up 19 emission testing centers in areas that have already been mapped out from January or February next year. “Kenyans who comply will be given stickers from NEMA and we will put in place measures to ensure all vehicles are compliant.”
Despite acknowledging challenges in policy implementation, Mamo expressed optimism, citing performance contracts at both county and national levels to streamline efforts.
