Selected environmental impacts of energy use by the automobile sector: Findings from a project focussed on Johannesburg and Cape Town

Abstract

The transport sector is the major consumer of liquid petroleum fuels, and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. It had been estimated to contribute 11% of total national greenhouse gas emissions. It is thus a significant contributor to climate change and air pollution with the attendant negative impacts on the climate and human health. In view of this, the South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI) supported a project, executed by the CSIR, to look at the impact of energy use in the transport sector on the environment, particularly air quality. This paper is intended to provide information about the project, its findings and recommendations. The paper is based on limited air quality monitoring and pollutant dispersion modelling and analysis work by the Climatology Research Group at the University of the Witwatersrand, with a smaller soil and water contamination monitoring and analysis component. by Starplex Environmental Solutions. A review of relevant policies and strategies of the two cities was undertaken and two stakeholder workshops were held to discuss findings and to formulate recommendations for policymakers. The two cities were found to have generally different levels of pollutants at the sites monitored and significant differences in their approaches to future transport planning with a view to minimising negative environmental impacts. The lessons from the examination of the different approaches, together with those from other cities can inform future national level transport policy planning. Recommendations around regulatory, legal, technological, fiscal, and awareness issues are provided from the findings of the project and subsequent stakeholder dialogue