How can I travel sustainably in Cape Town? Can Traveling Become Sustainable in Developing Countries by 2050? As an eco-friendly enthusiast, these are some of the questions I ask myself.
I am determined to adopt eco-friendly behaviors. However, as someone earning less than R10,000 a month, my options are limited. Public transport is dominated by informal taxis, mainly Toyota Quantums, which are still petrol-powered. Golden Arrow buses run on diesel, and even the electric trains are powered by coal-fired plants, contributing to CO2 emissions.
E-hailing services like Uber, InDrive, and Bolt are available, but despite Bolt announcing the roling out e-taxis in 2021, I still can’t find an e-taxi option in Cape Town as of 2024. Daily, I face the frustration of traffic jams, with fuel prices soaring to R100 for three liters, whereas not long ago, it would have bought four liters. Meanwhile, my salary remains stagnant against rising inflation.
I thought about offsetting my carbon footprint, but research left me doubtful. Reports from sources like Bloomberg reveal that some offset programs are not as effective as they claim, with some taking credit for planting trees that were already there or preserve aren’t forests that aren’t in danger of being harversted.
Perhaps buying an electric car could be a solution. Business Tech states that electric models are over R100,000 more expensive than traditional cars, though the annual  savings on fuel could be total R30,000. Yet, the initial cost is far too high for me.
Charging an electric car presents another challenge. I live in Langa, a high-density area in Cape Town, and there are no charging stations here. Africa faces significant obstacles in quickly adopting electric cars due to inadequate electricity supply, which is already insufficient for domestic and industrial needs.
Living in Langa means I need to be vigilant while walking. Riding a bicycle is not an option because of the high risk of theft. Every day, I navigate these challenges, feeling the weight of an unsustainable system.
It feels like the electric car revolution is not for the 99%, but for the 1%. Developed countries like Japan are dumping second-hand cars with high CO2 emissions into Africa. According to the World Bank, 63% of the population lives below the upper-middle-income poverty line. This makes the e-car revolution inaccessible for most people.
Sustainable Travel: A Distant Dream in Cape Town, like many other cities in developing countries, there are currently no viable options for traveling sustainably for many of us. The existing infrastructure and economic constraints make adopting eco-friendly transportation methods a distant dream.
Have you faced similar challenges trying to travel sustainably in your area? Whether you’re in another part of South Africa or in a different developing country, I invite you to share your experiences. Together, we can highlight the common struggles and work towards finding solutions for a greener future.
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