A new report compiled by global partnership The Real World Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative reveals unequal exposure to vehicle emissions and air pollution across Johannesburg.
The report was compiled by independent nonprofit research organisation International Council on Clean Transportation researchers Mallery Crowe, Kaylin Lee and Yoann Bernard, in collaboration with the City of Johannesburg, the University of Johannesburg Energy and Environmental Technology Station and global climate and public health initiative Breathe Cities.
This initiative conducted its first real-world roadside remote sensing campaign in Africa, collecting more than 250 000 vehicle exhaust measurements in Johannesburg to provide a comprehensive picture of emissions from light- and heavy-duty vehicles across the region.
Petrol passenger cars registered before 2006 made up 4% of the fleet but contributed up to 24% of the fleet’s measured emissions, including nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Between July and September 2025, remote sensing technology situated at 11 different sites throughout the city captured the fleet’s emissions.
