The Real Urban Emissions Initiative (TRUE) has kicked off a groundbreaking project in Kampala, Uganda, to measure on-road vehicle emissions, which experts say will provide policymakers with evidence highlighting the urgent need to improve air quality in the rapidly growing African city.
Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Council on Clean Transportation and local partners like the Kampala City Authority, TRUE aims to test around 4,000 vehicles over three weeks using innovative plume-chasing technology. It is the first project of its kind in Africa and follows similar monitoring in cities like London, New York City and Paris.
The initiative comes at a critical time for Kampala, where air pollution levels are over five times greater than the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual targeted safe level.
"Uganda, just as many other developing countries, relies heavily on importing used vehicles,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division. “This project underscores the critical necessity for importing and exporting countries to uphold stringent regulations and standards for used vehicles. This is imperative to curtail the trade of obsolete, aging, unsafe and polluting cars."
Launched on 5 July following a week of training for the local task team, TRUE will capture and analyze real-world emissions from two-wheelers and light- and heavy-duty vehicles. The project will measure pollutants including nitrogen oxides, black carbon, and particulate number relative to carbon dioxide.
The transport sector is a major contributor to air pollution, with the National Management Authority of Uganda attributing nearly 60 per cent of nitrogen dioxide exhaust emissions within the city centre to vehicles. These pollutants have been linked to heart disease, stroke, asthma and several other health conditions.
Air pollution is a global crisis, contributing to 8.1 million deaths worldwide in 2021, found a recent report from the Clean Air Fund, a philanthropy. WHO reports that 99 per cent of people breathe air exceeding safe levels, with low- and middle-income countries facing the highest exposures. In Africa, increased reliance on used vehicles to meet affordable mobility needs has exacerbated the problem due to a lack of minimum quality standards for imported vehicles.
TRUE’s findings are expected to raise awareness among the public and policymakers about emissions and aid in the implementation of measures to regulate vehicle emissions. The data will also serve as valuable input for countries across Africa to understand real-world emissions from their growing vehicle fleets.
Immaculate Nyamaizi, Senior Inspector of Vehicles in the Uganda Ministry of Works and Transport, said a combination of strategies is needed to reduce pollution from transport. This includes bolstering public and non-motorized transport, improving infrastructure, adopting cleaner vehicle technologies: Transitioning to electric vehicles starting with two-wheelers and digitalizing transport systems.
“[This project)] not only enhances our understanding of the impacts of vehicle emissions on climate and public health, but the localized data gathered will empower the government and other decisionmakers to enact policies regulating vehicle emissions, “ said Sergent Ojok Charles of the Uganda Police Force.
This project aligns with UNEP’s Used Vehicles Programme, which supports the shift to cleaner and safer used vehicles by introducing minimum safety and environmental standards in both importing and exporting countries. The initiative is particularly crucial for sub-Saharan Africa, where most countries, including Uganda, have yet to implement minimum standards for importing cleaner and safer used vehicles.
Funded by the FIA Foundation, the TRUE initiative represents a significant step towards improving air quality and public health in Kampala. Experts say it can serve as a model for other rapidly growing cities in Africa and beyond.
International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies held annually on 7 September and facilitated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), raises awareness about the importance of clean air for health, productivity, the economy and the environment. This year’s theme “Invest in #CleanAirNow” underscores the economic, environmental and health benefits of investing in clean air.
About the Real Urban Emissions Initiative
The Real Urban Emissions Initiative (TRUE) supports cities worldwide to develop effective air quality and climate policies with independent real-world vehicle emissions data, technical analysis, and expert advice. The TRUE initiative is a partnership of the FIA Foundation and the International Council on Clean Transportation with a shared interest in cleaning up vehicles, improving urban air quality, and mitigating climate change.
