Urbanization and climate change: the role of road transport in carbon dioxide emission in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Large cities are characterized by concentration of large number of people and centralization Large cities are characterized by concentration of large number of people and centralization of commercial activities around their cores. These of commercial activities around their cores. These necessitate concentration of automobiles and consequently, emission of large amount of carbon dioxide (CO and consequently, emission of large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into the atmosphere. This study aims to estimate the average amount of CO study aims to estimate the average amount of CO2 being emitted hourly by automobiles in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The rela Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The related objectives include; determining automobiles hourly ted objectives include; determining automobiles hourly average density on the city’s roads, estimating CO average density on the city’s roads, estimating CO2 emission from respective categories of emission from respective categories of automobiles and examining the situation against CO automobiles and examining the situation against CO2 abatement measures submitted by the abatement measures submitted by the Federal Government of Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Short period traffic count at various traffic corridors of the city was used to Change. Short period traffic count at various traffic corridors of the city was used to determine automobiles’ average density per hour and United States Environmental Protection determine automobiles’ average density per hour and United States Environmental Protection Agency method was used in estimating CO as used in estimating CO2 emission from automobiles. Results revealed the following emissions in metric tonnes per hour; 15.75 from cars and buses, 6.08 from tricycles following emissions in metric tonnes per hour; 15.75 from cars and buses, 6.08 from tricycles and 0.56 from lorries. These give a combined hourly emission of 22.39 tonnes. CO2 abatement and 0.56 from lorries. These give a combined hourly emission of 22.39 tonnes. CO measures identified are expansion of roads and construction of flyovers to decongest traffic. measures identified are expansion of roads and construction of flyovers to decongest traffic. It is recommended that efficient public urban mass transit that involves low carbon emission It is recommended that efficient public urban mass transit that involves low carbon emission should be provided and individual car usage should be discouraged should be provided and individual car usage should be discouraged. Key words: CO2 abatement, automobile density, climate change, global warming, greenhouse abatement, automobile density, climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases