The plan to cut carbon emissions from trucks using the Northern Corridor by 10 per cent by 2030 is a welcome step in East and Central Africa’s growing fight against pollution and climate change. More than 7,000 trucks use the corridor every month, travelling roughly 1,600 kilometres between the Port of Mombasa and destinations including Kigali. The sheer volume of freight traffic means that even modest improvements in fuel efficiency can translate into significant environmental gains. ALSO READ: Six ways Rwanda is building resilient and sustainable transport systems The latest findings put emissions from trucks operating along the corridor at about 340,000 tonnes of carbon, with the Kigali-Rusizi road accounting for 84 per cent of emissions recorded in the study. These figures underline the urgency of making freight transport cleaner. The proposed eco-driving campaign is particularly encouraging because it offers a practical and relatively affordable way of addressing the problem. Training drivers to accelerate and brake smoothly, manage speed, use gears efficiently and maintain vehicles properly can reduce fuel consumption, lower operating costs and cut emissions without waiting for every truck to be replaced with a cleaner model. The targets, including a 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency, a 10 per cent reduction in carbon emissions intensity and a 12 per cent reduction in particulate matter, black carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions by 2030, should therefore be pursued with determination. This matters not only because of climate change, but also because of the air people breathe along busy transport routes. Diesel-powered heavy vehicles release pollutants that contribute to poor air quality and can affect communities living and working near major roads. ALSO READ: Rwanda unveils $11bn climate action plan Cleaner freight should consequently be viewed as both a climate intervention and a public-health measure. The initiative also fits well with Rwanda’s broader climate ambitions, including its target of cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by 53 per cent by 2035 compared with business as usual. Other countries along the Northern Corridor are pursuing their own measures to build more sustainable and climate-resilient economies. But training 1,000 drivers should only be the beginning. Eco-driving needs to become standard practice, including through driving schools and continuous professional training. Governments and transport operators should also accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicles, low-carbon fuels and efficient logistics systems. The fight against climate change cannot be won through one initiative. It requires many complementary actions across transport, energy, industry, agriculture and urban development. A greener Northern Corridor would demonstrate that economic growth and regional trade do not have to come at the expense of the environment. Cleaner trucks mean lower emissions, lower fuel costs, safer roads and, importantly, cleaner air for millions of people who depend on this vital transport route.
