BLOGS | RUSOKE | CITIES 

 The net zero concept can be described as a target of completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity through reducing emissions and implementing methods of absorbing carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere.  

The concept aims at climate change mitigation and aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 on Climate Action. 

The International Energy Agency (IEA) – a global energy authority, providing data, analysis and solutions on all fuels and technologies helps governments, industry and people to make appropriate energy choices.  

With the unprecedented effects of climate change taking toll on human health, agricultural production and natural systems, the focus on climate change mitigation currently is aiming at achieving net zero emissions by building, remodelling or empowering population to embrace smart cities.  

The IEA 2021 report presents prospects of how smart cities can contribute to net zero emissions through embracing digitization.  

Achieving clean, low-carbon, resilient and inclusive energy systems is a pre-cursor to net zero emissions.  New technologies in transport and increased connectivity, improving urban planning is poised to act as an enabler to achieve net zero emissions alongside creating jobs and business ventures as more innovators are financially supported to provide e-technologies.  

Globally, cities account for 50% of the planet’s population, 80% of the economic output, two-thirds of the global energy consumption, and more than 70% of annual global carbon emissions (IEA, 2021).

If say City Authorities invested more in smart street lamps to self-cooling building, smart electric motorcycles, car chargers and accelerating funding for inclusive clean energy transitions and options, this could accelerate net zero city emissions.  

While on my usual city errands in Kampala, I happened to visit an e-motorcycle garage at Mukalazi building on Nakawa-Ntinda Road. I notice how a considerable number of youths go about fixing e-motorcycles.  

These electric-powered motorcycles are becoming popular on Kampala metropolitan roads. As reported by DW TV in 2020, e-motorcycles in Kampala are a big step towards achieving clean environment in Uganda.

They are noise-free, do not produce any sort of carbon-filled smoke and easy to operate. Such start-up companies of e-motorcycles are turning e-gasoline motorcycles into e-bikes. 

Next time you are walking on the road be cautious as the behaviour of the riders of e-motorcycles has not changed much from those who ride the noise-making ordinary gasoline motorcycles. They ride the silent motorcycles a little faster and could easily knock you down.  
Approximately 300,000 motorbikes ply the city routes in the name of boda-bodas, most of these use gasolines, their exhaust fumes adding to those from cars and other automobiles to accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs).  

Air quality was reported to have improved during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 within Kampala. The COVID-19 lockdown had improved air quality by 40% as reported by the East African Business Week in the year 2020. This was attributed to less vehicular traffic.  

To maintain improved air quality will require more investment in e-mobility in Kampala and other cities. What lessons do we take out of this article? If we are to achieve net zero emissions, City Authorities need to refocus their funding priorities to support start-ups of e-tech both in transport, energy and industrial sectors. This should be done alongside maintaining subsidies on other clean energy products & services.  

 Dr. Taddeo Rusoke (Ph.D.) a Lecturer of Conservation Studies at Nkumba University Uganda