Kenya launches e-bike project to fight climate change
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E-mail Xinhua, July 6, 2023
NAIROBI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Wednesday launched a project to provide financial support for electric motorbike taxi riders to reduce carbon emission of the transport sector in the captial city of Nairobi.
The project, launched by the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, will see 100,000 riders benefit from electric motorbikes over the next six years.
"The government has prioritized the adoption of e-mobility to achieve a number of targets. There is a need to reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent by 2030. In 2022, emissions in the transport sector were estimated to be 1.26 million tonnes of carbon dioxide," said Kipchumba Murkomen, cabinet secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Work, said during a launching ceremony held in Nairobi.
Over 60 motorcycle taxi riders were the first recipients of the electric motorbikes during the ceremony, following comprehensive training on electric bikes, the rule of law, customer service and mastering conflict resolution.
Murkomen said that the transport sector is the second highest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the country and has been identified as a focus sector in Kenya's enhanced National Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments and National Climate Change Action Plan.
The project is expected to create over 150,000 new green jobs in Kenya's motorcycle taxi sector.
KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said the initiative is in line with the bank's commitment to increasing its green lending loan portfolio by working with like-minded partners to enhance green job creation and attain the net-zero ambitions.
"We seek to make it possible for players in the transport sector to acquire electric motorbikes at an affordable rate and earn a living," Russo said.
Kenya is striving to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to the benefit of the environment, the health of the citizens and job opportunities as the demand for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure increases. Enditem
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