The much anticipated three-day workshop organized by C40 kicks off in Joburg, today.
Joburg’s Transport Department is expected to host over 20 participants from African and European cities until 25 January 2024 at the Johannesburg Zoo.
The international guests will be welcomed by the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Kabelo Gwamanda, together with Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, Cllr Kenny Kunene.
Kabelo Gwamanda, Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, says “climate change has become a very real global concern, and everything must be done to stop further destruction of our planet through collaborative efforts that mitigate against global warming and the resultant floods, melting icebergs, severe drought and air pollution that threaten our socioeconomic survival.”
A statement from the City said transport accounts for around one-fifth of global CO₂ emissions or 21%.
” Road travel accounts for three-quarters of transport emissions. Most of this comes from passenger vehicles, cars and buses, which contribute 45.1%. The other 29.4% comes from trucks carrying freight.”
Speaking about the global workshop, Gwamanda said “we will share experiences and information and particularly outline Joburg’s paratransit reform programme and plans for the minibus taxi industry in Gauteng. The discussions will among other topics focus on meaningful reforms of the informal transport sector.”
“This will be an opportunity to showcase Johannesburg Rea Vaya BRT-minibus taxi integration and inspire participating cities. The aim is to foster more dialogue on the topic and create a new peer-to-peer network for cities to access support and knowledge on the question of paratransit/informal transport reform and bus modernisation,” says Mayor Gwamanda.
The representatives will learn about minibus taxi industry reform solutions in practice, with a view to understand how this links into the roll-out of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) systems. Johannesburg as the host city will share its experience and present the policies, regulations, stakeholder engagement and partnerships it implemented to deliver this reform programme.
C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis.
Picture: Senegal’s recently launched electric Bus Rapid Transit Network (BRT).