NAIROBI, September 2018 - A new project aiming to reduce carbon emissions in Africa, The Urban Pathways project, has been launched by UN-Habitat in partnership with UN Environment and the Wuppertal Institute. The project provides a structured approach to boost Low Carbon Plans for urban transport  energy and waste management services  through supporting development of national action plans and concrete local implementation.   Currently 11  per cent of carbon emission are due to  road transport and two per cent from air and marine transport.

Participants from Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Nextbike, the World Bank, representatives from Ministries of Environment and Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the counties of Nyandarua, Kiambu, Kisii, Machakos and Nairobi and civil society.

The project, which includes capacity building, establishment of partnerships and concrete bankable project proposals is being targeted at India, Brazil, Kenya and Viet Nam.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Roads under the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Mr. Martin Eshiwani, said the Government was aware of the challenges.  “We daily see and encounter conflict on roads, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all struggling for space. We acknowledge that development of structures is key to accommodate all.”

“UN-Habitat is working with other partners to ensure that there is low carbon emission we are glad that Urban Pathways project is a vehicle that will enable us implement the New Urban Agenda as well as achieve SDG on climate change, ”. said Mr. Andre Dzikus of UN-Habitat. . Adrianna Mbandi a UN Environment representative said “air pollution contributes to deaths globally air quality measuring is essential in helping curb the carbon emission rates and finding appropriate solutions to the challenge”

Mr. Abdu Muwonge a World Bank representative and team leader of the Kenya Urban Support Programme emphasized the need to support the counties with  time bound action plans; incorporating low carbon plans in their projects, encouraging use of non-motorized transport as a priority, advocating for better energy technologies, encouraging participatory dialogue with academia and citizens and developing a toolkit and guide that can be rolled out to the counties on how to reduce carbon emissions.

“Mobility, energy and resource management are critical aspects of the urban fabric and these sectors are critically interlined with the local economy” says Oliver Lah from the Urban Pathways secretariat.

Various concepts were submitted to the Urban Pathways team for follow-up from the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu. Nyandarua, Kakamega, Kisii and Machakos county.

Hyperlink

https://unhabitat.org/un-habitat-and-partners-launch-the-urban-pathway-project/

https://unhabitat.org/new-urban-agenda-adopted-at-habitat-iii/

https://unhabitat.org/urban-themes/mobility/

http://www.urban-pathways.org/

http://www.uemi.net/solutions.html