Climate Change and the Transport Sector

This briefing note examines the intersection of climate change and the transport sector in Kenya, detailing the sector's vulnerability to extreme weather and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. It provides guidance for businesses on adapting operations and reducing emissions through fuel efficiency and the 'avoid-shift-improve' framework.

• The transport sector in Kenya is a significant economic driver, accounting for approximately 10 per cent of GDP, and is characterized by a rapid increase in vehicle population, which grew from 600,000 in 2000 to 1,200,000 in 2010.
• Climate change poses severe physical risks to Kenyan transport infrastructure, including damage to ports from sea level rise and storms, and the destruction of roads and bridges. Historical data shows that the 1997-98 El Niño floods caused damage equivalent to at least 11 per cent of GDP, with Ksh 62 billion specifically affecting transport infrastructure.
• Higher temperatures and water scarcity create operational challenges, such as the softening of pavement leading to potholes, the warping of rail tracks, and increased manufacturing costs for vehicles due to the high water requirements of production.
• Transport emissions in Kenya were equivalent to six million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2010, representing 10 per cent of national emissions, and are projected to reach 19 per cent of total emissions by 2030.
• Businesses can reduce emissions and costs by improving fuel efficiency through the adoption of fuel-saving technologies (such as aerodynamics and hybridization), replacing stock with more efficient vehicles, and implementing modern logistics to eliminate "empty backhaul".
• The use of biofuels in Kenya is currently in a nascent stage and remains controversial due to the "food versus fuel" debate and the risk that nitrogen releases from fertilizers could increase net greenhouse gas emissions.
• The document recommends the 'avoid-shift-improve' approach for emission reductions: 'avoid' by reducing travel needs, 'shift' by moving to more efficient modes like rail or waterways, and 'improve' by utilizing more energy-efficient technologies and fuels.

APA

Murphy, D., & Harris, M. (2014). Climate Change and the Transport Sector. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-the-Transport-Sector.pdf

Chicago

Murphy, Deborah, and Melissa Harris. Climate Change and the Transport Sector. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2014. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-the-Transport-Sector.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Murphy |first1=Deborah |last2=Harris |first2=Melissa |title=Climate Change and the Transport Sector |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=April 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-the-Transport-Sector.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{murphy2014climate, author = {Murphy, Deborah and Harris, Melissa}, title = {{Climate Change and the Transport Sector}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = apr, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-the-Transport-Sector.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }