Photo by: Bloomberg
As the City of Johannesburg prepares to host the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Mayors Summit, from February 4 to 6, it has reiterated its commitment to the development of improved public transport networks that reduce congestion on public roads and lower carbon emissions.
Johannesburg executive mayor Parks Tau said in a statement on Wednesday that the city aimed to become a world leader in green transport by focusing on various aspects of the green transport value chain.
Among these was the development and commercialisation of biogas feedstocks from biocrops and the use of waste resources, such as green waste, domestic waste, waste oils and wastewater, for transport applications.
The city further aimed to promulgate energy efficiency in the development, production, implementation and maintenance of transport technologies such as fuel filters, gas conversion kits for vehicles and fuel additives for both the public transport and private vehicle sectors.
“We will also focus on skills development for the alternative-fuel transport sector as well as infrastructure development in terms of alternative fuel supply, distribution and dispensing,” Tau commented.
Besides contributing to the green economy, he said these transportation greening initiatives could potentially create sustainable new employment and income-generating opportunities.
“The city is encouraging citizens to switch their mode of transport, thereby alleviating congestion and pollution. Car users should try to shift to different energy sources for vehicles to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
“The choices we make today will determine the future of our city, country and planet,” Tau noted.