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Rea Vaya charts a green path
- Details
- 03 June 2011
- Written by Mbhazima Lesego waka’Ngobeni
JOBURG’S Bus Rapid Transit system is a concrete way to show that the City is putting its money where its mouth is in the fight against climate change.
IN a rapidly changing world where the significance of public transport cannot be overestimated, and where the transit of masses of people is pivotal to economic growth, Rea Vaya follows international trends of operating a modernised system that adheres to sound environmental guidelines.
Africa’s first streamlined Bus Rapid Transit has been lauded internationally for being the single largest climate change initiative ever undertaken by the City of Johannesburg, in dealing with congestion on roads, air pollution and greenhouse gases.
According to Joburg’s portfolio head of transportation, Rehana Moosajee, Rea Vaya offers not only a convenient alternative form of public transport, it is also environmentally friendly, safe and affordable.
It operates a fleet of low-sulphur diesel buses that emit less greenhouse gases. And before it was set up, the bus system was researched and tested to determine its potential effects on the environment.
It is estimated that it will save 1,6 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2020 if 15 percent of private vehicle users who live near the city centre switch to it. Mokgohloa says every citizen needs to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Whether it’s on existing projects or new programmes, we have to ensure that we do not increase the city’s carbon footprint.”
Sustainable Transport Award
Its help in combating climate change has earned Rea Vaya a Sustainable Transport Award.
The City wants to be a catalyst in energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation. And through the system, it has set a benchmark for other African cities to implement mass transport systems that are environmentally friendly.
Indeed, Joburg has paved a way forward in converting to a green public transport system, which reduces the effects of global warming. Future plans include developing low-carbon and climate resilient projects that will ultimately lead to creating a green economy.
Globally, there is still a need to find sustainable solutions to climate change and reach consensus in resolving lingering issues, particularly emission reduction targets and the conditions for meeting them. Most governments still don’t agree on how the issue should be tackled, the appropriate targets and legally binding policies to follow.
However, Moosajee says that since its implementation, Rea Vaya has succeeded in stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in Johannesburg and limiting temperature increases. All development decisions in the city are taken with the need for a green planet in mind: from greening and cleaning the environment, to reducing the energy load in buildings, to cutting carbon emissions. [Green city]
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emitted from driving motor vehicles and through other human activities, trap heat in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming or a change in temperature. Scientists believe that as atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases continue to rise, average global temperatures and sea levels will continue to increase and precipitation patterns might change.
Cleaner technologies
However, the impact of emissions can be reduced with a switch to newer and cleaner technologies. And in its climate change policy, the City has set out new targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and has put in place specific actions to address the issues.
Rea Vaya is not the only City project designed to curb emissions; the municipality has also pioneered a variety of other projects, like the Climate Proofing Programme, the Energy Efficiency Buildings Retrofit Programme, the Greenhouse Gas Data Web Interface and the Implementation of the BRT Clean Development Mechanism project.
And with its assortment of groundbreaking projects meant to reduce emissions, preserve air quality and provide a low carbon option of mass transport, Rea Vaya will likely get a mention at this year’s World Climate Summit, to be held in the coastal city of Durban in December.
The high-profile two-day conference will be attended by about 80 speakers and 200 decision makers, thought leaders, agenda setters and policy influencers in business, finance and governments, as well as philanthropists, who will work on charting a way forward for finding sustainable solutions to climate change.
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