Poorest suffer most from vehicle air pollution, says South Africa study
New air quality research in Johannesburg has found that vehicle-related emissions are not equally distributed across the city.
The highest overall particulate matter (PM) vehicle pollution is concentrated in central and southern Johannesburg. Minibus taxis, the most common form of public transport for residents in these areas as they seek economic sites in the north, accounted for 10% of measured vehicle activity, yet contributed between 21% and 40% of vehicle exhaust emissions.
Use of diesel-powered minibuses is increasing in Johannesburg, accounting for 98% of all new minibus taxi registrations in 2025, up from 7% in 2001. These minibuses exhibited PM and NOX emissions higher than their petrol counterparts in recent years, which could carry significant health impacts for residents if left unaddressed. Even the newest diesel passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and trucks showed average NOX and PM emissions between 3 and 14 times higher than Euro 6/VI limits. The report recommends adopting electric minibus taxis to reduce emissions and lifetime operating costs for owners, accomplished through financing schemes to reduce upfront costs.
The study, by the TRUE Initiative with support from Breathe Cities, used remote emission sensing to collect over 250,000 vehicle exhaust measurements. It demonstrated that meaningful emission reductions are achievable in Johannesburg through near- and long-term interventions at both the city and national government levels.
The report recommends adopting Euro 6d/VI-D (European regulatory standards) for new vehicles to bring about meaningful emission reduction benefits and align South Africa with its major export markets; expanding and enforcing Johannesburg’s existing vehicle inspection and maintenance program and prioritising large commercial fleets before extending requirements to private passenger cars; and supports an existing recommendation by the City of Johannesburg to utilise clean air zones as a key solution for a gradual and equitable transition to a cleaner transportation sector.
https://trueinitiative.org/research/real-world-emissions-johannesburg/
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