Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (policy brief)

This policy brief, based on a report by the Transport and Environment Science Technology Network (TEST), examines the intersection of transport and environmental challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically focusing on air pollution, road safety, traffic congestion, equity, and climate change.

• Urban air pollution is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily due to fossil fuel use in transport. The region suffers from inadequate and poorly enforced vehicle emission standards, and only eight countries possess operational routine air quality monitoring systems.
• Road crash fatalities and injuries are disproportionately high in Africa compared to vehicle ownership; while the continent has less than 3% of global motor vehicles, it accounts for more than 11% of global road fatalities, with pedestrians and cyclists being particularly affected.
• Traffic congestion is increasing in cities due to factors such as ineffective public transport, poor cycling and walking infrastructure, lack of integrated land-use policies, and poor road discipline, though the economic, social, and environmental impacts are rarely quantified.
• Transport policies in sub-Saharan Africa typically favor automobiles over the needs of poor and vulnerable populations, creating a need for policies that prioritize equitable accessibility, safety, and environmental protection.
• Despite having the lowest historical greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of any continent, Africa's emissions are growing rapidly due to increased fossil-fuel use. Integrating climate considerations into transport planning could lower GHG emissions and improve infrastructure resilience.

APA

Schwela, D., & Haq, G. (2013). Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (policy brief). Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/publications/transport-and-environment-in-sub-saharan-africa-policy-brief/

Chicago

Schwela, D., and G. Haq. Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (policy brief). Stockholm Environment Institute, 2013. https://www.sei.org/publications/transport-and-environment-in-sub-saharan-africa-policy-brief/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schwela |first1=D. |last2=Haq |first2=G. |title=Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (policy brief) |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=17 May 2013 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/transport-and-environment-in-sub-saharan-africa-policy-brief/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schwela2013transport, author = {Schwela, D. and Haq, G.}, title = {{Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (policy brief)}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2013}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/transport-and-environment-in-sub-saharan-africa-policy-brief/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }