Democratise and decolonise to decarbonise: how to reap health and climate benefits of transport infrastructure in Africa

Abstract

Tolu Oni and colleagues argue that building healthy low carbon transport infrastructure in Africa’s rapidly growing cities requires addressing historical contexts, confronting power imbalances, and claiming transport as a social good Africa is undergoing rapid urbanisation while facing growing climate vulnerabilities and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. With global urban growth expected to be greatest in Africa and Asia,1 addressing the interlinked issues of health, climate, land use, and pollution is crucial for sustainable development. By 2030, the number of African cities with over half a million people is estimated to increase by 80%,2 putting pressure on housing, transport, and energy sectors. The transport sector is important for development and economic progress, influencing environmental (noise and air pollution, green and blue spaces), economic (employment, household income), and social (education, social network) factors. It can facilitate access to livelihoods, education, and social connectedness but has historically been associated with negative impacts on health and climate. Positive changes are emerging across the African region towards healthier and low carbon transport systems, with increasing emphasis on safe non-motorised travel such as walking and cycling, alongside robust mass transport systems. Although transport has a crucial role in facilitating mobility for human and economic development, conceptualisation of efficiency needs to move away from the extractive and exploitative movement of goods and people to prioritise health and climate resilience. This reframing should consider the historical context, power dynamics, and the unique characteristics of the continent’s mobility ecosystem. Despite having the lowest car ownership per capita, Africa has the highest traffic related deaths in the world.3 Motor vehicle emissions account for 90% of urban air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa, causing ill health and death.4 The transport sector in Africa is estimated to cause more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.5 …