Abstract:
The transportation sector plays a significant role in climate change as it is often associated
with CO2 emissions from vehicles and during energy production of fuels. The effects of
climate change are negatively impacting diverse groups of people around the world and in
South Africa which affects the societal needs of communities. Through desktop analysis,
this essay aims to explore how sustainable transportation planning in South Africa can
contribute to addressing societal needs considering current and future energy and climate
change. This essay looks into the transportation sector in South Africa and how current
energy changes are implicating societal needs of diverse groups and how future energy
changes will contributes towards building sustainable transportation planning in South
Africa. The key lessons from other countries identified in this essay includes congestion
tax, shift to natural gas and the introduction of electric vehicles. This essay concludes that
the success of sustainable transportation planning in South Africa is possible, however it
needs to be backed up with strict policies and public education on the importance of
sustainable transportation planning.
