Climate Change and the Transport Sector

The transport sector in Kenya, which accounts for approximately 10 per cent of GDP, is highly vulnerable to climate impacts such as flooding and sea level rise, while simultaneously contributing 10 per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions as of 2010. The document outlines specific physical risks to infrastructure, such as the warping of rail tracks from higher temperatures and damage to ports from storms, noting that the 1997-98 El Niño floods caused transport infrastructure damage of Ksh 62 billion. To mitigate emissions, which are projected to reach 19 per cent of total national emissions by 2030, the briefing recommends the 'avoid-shift-improve' approach, increasing fuel efficiency in vehicle fleets, and shifting freight from road to rail. It also highlights the potential and controversies surrounding biofuels in Kenya, specifically the 'food versus fuel' debate.

• The transport sector in Kenya is a significant source of emissions, accounting for 10 per cent of national emissions in 2010 (equivalent to six million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), with a projected increase to 19 per cent of total emissions by 2030.
• Climate change poses severe physical risks to Kenyan transport infrastructure, including the potential for sea level rise and storms to damage port facilities, and for torrential rainfall to flood maritime, road, rail, and air networks.
• Extreme weather events have already caused substantial economic damage to Kenya's transport sector; specifically, the El Niño floods of 1997-98 resulted in Ksh 62 billion in infrastructure damage, contributing to a total GDP loss of at least 11 per cent.
• Rising temperatures create specific operational hazards for road and rail, such as the softening and expansion of pavement leading to potholes and rutting, and the warping of rail tracks which may necessitate speed restrictions or repairs to prevent derailments.
• To reduce emissions and costs, businesses are encouraged to adopt the 'avoid-shift-improve' framework: avoiding unnecessary travel, shifting to more efficient modes like rail or waterways, and improving vehicle technology and fuels.
• While biofuels are a potential low-emission alternative in Kenya, their adoption is complicated by the 'food versus fuel' debate and the risk that nitrogen releases from fertilizers could offset greenhouse gas benefits.

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} }