Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa

The report examines the critical intersection of transport and environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting severe road safety risks, rising urban air and noise pollution, and increasing traffic congestion. It argues that current transport systems are often inequitable, neglecting vulnerable groups like pedestrians and the rural poor. The document advocates for a paradigm shift toward sustainable mobility using the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' strategy, emphasizing the need for integrated land-use planning, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and the protection of non-motorized transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.

• Road safety in Africa is among the worst globally; while the region has only 2.8% of the world's motor vehicles, its share of road fatalities is approximately 11.1%.
• Road traffic deaths and injuries create a significant economic burden for Sub-Saharan African countries, typically costing between 1% and 3% of their Gross National Product (GNP).
• Urban air quality management (AQM) in Sub-Saharan Africa is largely underdeveloped, with 21 out of 27 assessed countries categorized as being in the 'Absent', 'Initial', or 'Early' stages.
• The phase-out of leaded gasoline was successfully completed across all Sub-Saharan African countries between 2003 and 2007.
• Diesel fuel quality remains a concern in the region, with sulphur content exceeding 5,000 ppm in eight countries, including Benin, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya (excluding Nairobi), Mali, Somalia, and Togo.
• Environmental noise management is virtually absent in most SADC countries, with South Africa being the only one to have developed noise management plans.
• Traffic congestion in Sub-Saharan African cities is increasing due to rapid urbanization and motorization, often exacerbated by poor road discipline and inadequate infrastructure.
• The implementation of a 'BRT-Lite' system in Lagos, Nigeria, resulted in a 40% reduction in journey times along the corridor and increased average bus speeds from 15 to 25 km/h.
• Transport inequity is prevalent in SSA, where the 'care economy'—primarily managed by women—is often ignored in transport planning, which prioritizes the market economy.
• Small-scale, equitable transport interventions, such as the 'Build a Better Bicycle' project in Mozambique, have shown positive impacts on women's empowerment and girls' school enrolment.
• Africa's contribution to global CO2 emissions is relatively small (between 2.9% and 3.6% in 2008), but the growth trajectory of transport-related emissions is expected to rise steeply through 2050.
• The 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' (ASI) strategy is recommended to reduce carbon emissions by minimizing travel needs through land-use planning, shifting to sustainable modes, and improving vehicle efficiency.

APA

Haq, G., & Schwela, D. (2012). Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Pub2197-Haq-Schwela-test_tande_v2.pdf

Chicago

Haq, Gary, and Dieter Schwela. Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2012. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Pub2197-Haq-Schwela-test_tande_v2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haq |first1=Gary |last2=Schwela |first2=Dieter |title=Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=October 2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Pub2197-Haq-Schwela-test_tande_v2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haq2012transport, author = {Haq, Gary and Schwela, Dieter}, title = {{Transport and Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Pub2197-Haq-Schwela-test_tande_v2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }