Contribution of Automobile to Climate Change in Africa

Abstract

Man depends on the automobile to commute to the spatially distributed activities in cities to satisfy his needs. The rapid urbanization experienced in the most part of the world has increased demand for travel and also the pollution therefrom. The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions released by automobile is a major greenhouse gas emission causing climate change. This study explores automobile usage and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Africa. The information utilised in this study were sourced mainly from World Health Organization, Energy Information Administration and Carbon dioxide Information Analysis Centre, United States. The finding of the study reveals that the continent is experiencing growth in vehicle ownership and usage and has a total of 57,566,330 registered vehicles. The CO2 emission from the automobile is increasing in almost all countries in Africa. The continent recorded a total of 1,216,015.3 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2013, which represent 3.8% of world total. Surprisingly, only six countries South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Morocco and Libya accounts for more than 80% of this emissions. The growth in CO2 emissions in Africa can be attributed to rapid urbanization, the practice of buying used vehicles and use of low occupancy vehicles for public transport. The study recommends the introduction of strict vehicle emission control, conventional public transport system, use of low carbon emitting vehicles and establishment of an intergovernmental agency to monitor and collate information on greenhouse gases in Africa.