Estimating the Amount of Carbon Dioxide Emitted Along Traffic Corridors in Eldoret Town, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

摘要

Climate change is a major challenge in the 21st Century, as calamities and unpredictable weather changes lie on the realm of climate change. Climate change is a product of both anthropogenic and natural causes that emit greenhouse gases to the atmosphere causing a shift in climatic temperatures. Cities and towns are the main emitters of greenhouse gases -contributing 70-80% of the total global greenhouse gases. The prime solution of Greenhouse gases lies in reducing emissions or increasing carbon sinks. This paper aims at estimating the amount of carbon dioxide emitted along major traffic corridors in Eldoret town. Estimated data were obtained for carbon emission in the major emitter which is Transport sector. Data was collected at four control points on road junctions and roundabouts to the east, west, south and central of the central business district, the data collected included vehicles idling time and operating speeds, Vehicle Kilometres Travelled formulae based on the Caltrans software CT-EMFAC, was used in modelling carbon dioxide emissions on roads. An estimated total of 4693.9 tons of carbon dioxide was emitted annually from the roads. It was further observed that vehicles travel at average speeds of 10kmh apart from Control point 1 where vehicles were moving at average speeds of 20-30km/h. Emissions from motor vehicles idling were the highest contribution (93%) of the total emissions while running engines at speeds &5kmh contributed only 7% of the total emissions. Control point 2 had the highest rates of emissions during peak and off-peak hours. Pearsons correlation between speeds and fuel consumption at peak (r=-0.758) and off-peak (r= -0.762) was carried out and an inverse relationship between fuel consumption and operating speeds was observed. The research therefore recommends that the county and environmental organs in the country should increase traffic efficiency to cut on idling emission which is 93% higher than any other emissions from motor vehicles, introduce environmental levy fee for mitigating the effects of global warming due to emissions and encourage vehicles that are fuel efficient with auxiliary power units to aid in idling periods.