This was discussed during REMA’s launch of a study on Inventory of Sources of Air Pollution in Rwanda. The study looked at the current trends and situation of Air Pollution across the country, proposing a set of recommendations to beat pollution, calling for collective efforts to tackle the challenges brought by poor air quality.
The study indicates that vehicle emissions are the leading cause of air pollution in Kigali and other urban areas, where domestic biomass cook stoves from wood, charcoal and open fire burning in fields are the primary contributors to poor air quality in both residential and rural areas.
It also showed that 95,2% of the cars in Rwanda were at least ten years old, 56,6 % were made before 1999 and 77,2% were made before 2000.
The REMA Director General Eng. Collette Ruhamya, said that the government had put in place policies that guide public vehicles in Kigali but that worn-out cars and heavy-load vehicles that enhance poor air quality are still an issue yet to solve.
“If we had wider roads, then all those heavy-weight cars that emit pollutants would not have to pass in Kigali, because when they pass through the city in a great numbers, they pollute the atmosphere and skies”, she noted
“It is troubling that a three month study conducted in Kigali last year found that particulate matter concentrations in the city occasionally exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines”, Minister of Environment, Dr Biruta Vincent said
The Minister of Environment added that it was reassuring to note that the high concentrations of these pollutants, which were largely attributed to vehicle emissions, were greatly reduced during holidays and car-free days.
“This clearly demonstrates that we must continue to clean up our transport sector and look to new, cleaner technologies and innovative policy measures to reduce air pollution”, he added
Among the strategies and policy recommendations that were taken to address air pollution, it was agreed that cars would be given an age test, where new cars would be taxed at 20%, and old ones (above 10 years) would be taxed at 80%.
If the car is 10 years old and above, it will be taxed on 80%; between 9-10 years, it will be taxed on 75%; between 8-9 years, it will be taxed on 70%; between 7-8 years, it will be taxed on 65%, between 6-7 years, it will be taxed on 60%; between 5-6 years, the car will be taxed on 55%; between 4-5 years, the car will be taxed on 50%; between 3-4 years, it will be taxed on 40%; between 2-3 years, it will be taxed on 30 %, and the car between 1-2 years, will be taxed on 20%.
From the research made, 2,227 deaths were attributed to ambient air pollution in 2012 across the country, whereby the number of hospital admissions for acute respiratory infections in health centres increased from 1,682,321 in 2012 to 3,331,300 in 2015.
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