A new report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) revealed that Europe, Japan, and the U.S. exported 14 million vehicles between 2015 to 2018. These cars were shipped to low-middle-income developing countries, with more than half sent to Africa. This number will increase by 2050, with 90 percent taking place in non-OECD countries (South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and India).
According to the report, cars shipped from developed countries are in breach of the Euro 4 environmental standard and arrived without safety equipment (been removed or not working). Most of the cars aging between three and 15 years old are unsafe and hinder efforts to fight climate change.
Experts say that the lack of regulations in both exporting and importing has led to a legal vacuum in the trade of used vehicles, which are dangerous and polluting. Moreover, they found that 81 of the 146 surveyed countries have a 'weak' or 'very weak' policy in place to regulate the trade of used vehicles. Overall, only nine of the 54 African countries have a ‘good’ or ‘very good’ policy regarding imported used cars.
The Dutch Environment and Transport Inspectorate had also pointed out the same issue. In December 2019, 160 used cars in the port of Amsterdam set to a second life in Africa got tested. The Dutch authority found that over 80% were below the Euro 4 standard, and most have no valid road traffic certificates.
To curb the ill, experts suggest that both parties at the end of the supply chain agree on harmonized minimum quality standards in the trade of used light-duty cars. They believe these measures will ensure safer and cleaner vehicle fleets in the recipient countries.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has already set cleaner fuels and vehicle standards to take effect from January 2021. Also, some African countries like Morocco, Kenya, and Mauritius have a minimum quality for imported cars.
Unless you live in Africa, this a difficult problem to help solve but if you would like to contribute, please consider supporting Kiira Motors. A Ugandan based vehicle company providing clean cars to East Africa (not a paid advertisement).
Bibliography
“Limits to Improve Air Quality and Health .” AA, www.theaa.com/driving-advice/fuels-environment/euro-emissions-standards.
McGrath, Matt. “Climate Change: 'Dangerous and Dirty' Used Cars Sold to Africa.” BBC News, BBC, 26 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54665545.
Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat. “Rapport - Used Vehicles Exported to Africa.” Rapport | Inspectie Leefomgeving En Transport (ILT), Ministerie Van Infrastructuur En Waterstaat, 26 Oct. 2020, www.ilent.nl/documenten/rapporten/2020/10/26/rapport--used-vehicles-exported-to-africa.
UN Environment Programme. “West African Ministers Adopt Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles Standards.” UN Environment, www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/west-african-ministers-adopt-cleaner-fuels-and-vehicles-standards?_ga=2.148099572.233595726.1604070905-964238157.1604070905.
United Nations Environmental Program. Used Vehicles and the Environment. 2020, wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/34175/UVE.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
