Software developers have designed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system that will help detect carbon emission levels from vehicles, supporting initiatives aimed at cleaning the air and improving public health. ALSO READ: Police move to curb vehicle gas emissions “We have developed electronic devices that work alongside software platforms to control vehicle emissions. These devices are installed in vehicles to continuously monitor emissions and send the data to online dashboards. This allows drivers to see the amount of emissions their vehicles are producing and helps them comply with current government standards,” said Emmanuel Tuyizere, an environmental innovator and founder of Greenalytic Ltd. The system aligns with the government’s recent initiative to introduce enhanced vehicle emissions testing, which is set to begin in May 2025. This effort streses Rwanda’s commitment to cleaner air, improved public health, and sustainable development. ALSO READ: Rwandans urged to double efforts in combating rising air pollution The new system will separate emissions testing from mechanical testing, while maintaining both services at the existing testing centres, commonly known as Contrôle Technique. For the first time, motorbikes will also be included in both emissions and mechanical testing requirements. This move marks a significant step forward in ensuring that all vehicles and motorbikes meet the necessary standards to protect the environment and public health, according to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority. All bookings for emissions testing will continue to be made via the Irembo platform, ensuring a seamless process for vehicle and motorbike owners. Vehicle and motorbike owners are strongly encouraged to regularly service their machines to meet emissions standards and support Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to improve air quality. According to Tuyizere, the use of AI-backed devices will help owners meet the required emissions standards. “Our mission is to tackle vehicle air pollution. Recently, the Government of Rwanda introduced regulations limiting the registration of new diesel-powered motorcycles. We saw this as an opportunity and measured emissions from around 400 motorcycles in Kigali using our developed devices,” he said. He said that the company has a machine learning engineer currently refining the dashboard platform to provide advanced, data-driven statistics for emissions control solutions. “We collect emissions data and upload it to our dashboards. AI helps us build predictive models that guide drivers and vehicle owners in making informed decisions—such as when a vehicle needs maintenance or repairs to reduce emissions. It also assists in diagnostics. For vehicle owners, AI will serve as a valuable tool, helping them understand in real time what actions they need to take,” he explained. Olivier Kabera, Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, emphasised that now is the right time to embrace the potential of AI for green growth. “In the midst of rapidly changing dynamics that influence and impact our development trajectory, Rwanda recognises the immense potential of AI to drive the country’s ambitious green growth and climate agenda,” he said. He noted that in the urban and infrastructure sectors, the Government of Rwanda is increasingly exploring the application of predictive analytics and AI-powered tools to manage land use, forecast urban growth and climate change, monitor traffic patterns, and assess infrastructure needs, among other uses. “International cooperation and partnerships are therefore needed to establish the right foundation and enabling environment for harnessing the opportunities of sustainable and inclusive AI,” he added. Speaking at the AI & Green Growth side event in Kigali , Caroline Raes, the Country Representative of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in Rwanda said AI-driven technologies are already being leveraged to optimise energy grids, improve the efficiency of waste sorting and recycling, enable precision agriculture, and monitor deforestation. “These capabilities can significantly contribute to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, reducing pollution, and preserving biodiversity—thereby addressing the triple planetary crisis. We're exploring various ways to leverage AI. For example, we’re piloting projects that use AI to predict weather events that could lead to disasters. We’re also using AI to forecast tea crop yields, which can help improve productivity and encourage investment in the tea sector,” she said.
