Campaign to eliminate leaded petrol and reduce sulfur levels in diesel fuels,
Officials in Lagos, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Dakar aim to replace soot-spewing diesel buses with those that run on cleaner fuels. As rush hour dawns in Dar es Salaam, brightly coloured bajaji – or gas-powered rickshaws – deftly and opportunely squeeze through gaps between packed minibus taxis, known as dala dala. Nearly half of the Tanzanian city’s 6.4 million residents rely on these vehicles, as well as a small bus rapid transit (BRT) fleet, as their primary mode of transportation. As these vehicles inch through congested streets and crowded urban spaces, they emit trails of soot that pose serious health risks to commuters and city dwellers. With urban populations in Africa set to increase by 2 billion people by 2050, experts say the problem will only get worse. Through decarbonizing the transport sector and transitioning to cleaner buses, African cities can reduce environmental damage and human health risks while delivering a more reliable and speedy transport system to their growi...