The University of Johannesburg’s Process, Energy & Environment Technology Station (UJ PEETS) is part of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving air quality and promoting sustainable transport solutions.
Motor vehicles are one of the main sources of air pollution in the city of Johannesburg, accounting for over 75% of total NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions across sectors.
On Monday, 21 July 2025, UJ PEETS in collaboration with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) hosted the launch of the Comprehensive Real-World Vehicle Emissions Testing and Analysis Project.
An ICCT 2024 study on the health impacts of transportation emissions identified Johannesburg as the South African city bearing the largest burden of these emissions and the associated health impacts.
The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative project aims to generate data on the real-world emissions from vehicles in Johannesburg and the Greater Gauteng Region with an innovative remote sensing technology. The goal of this project is to inform the development of policies aimed at reducing the health impacts of vehicle pollution and advancing environmental justice. The project further aims to increase access to high-quality vehicle fleet and emission data and support future monitoring activities by developing local expertise in vehicle emissions measurement techniques. The data will be readily available in a format that can be utilised by policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders.
The project is managed by the TRUE Initiative, a partnership between the ICCT and FIA Foundation. UJ PEETS and the City of Johannesburg will contribute to the project by leveraging local knowledge and expertise on vehicle fleets and related policies, liaising with relevant local stakeholders, and developing local capacity for future vehicle emissions testing and monitoring activities.
The data will be readily available in a format that can be utilised by policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders.
City of Johannesburg Head of Air Quality Management, Mr Musa Mahlatji said the City was working on a clean air zone policy.
“The policy will envisage to improve air quality, with the objectives of moving Johannesburg closer to achieving National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQ) and WHO guidelines or interim targets as well as effectively providing measures or managing emissions in the zone- prioritising vehicle emissions.”
The TRUE initiative drives action towards cleaner urban transport through data collections, analysis and policy recommendations.
Says UJ PEETS Project Leader, Ms Boitemogelo Kwakwa: “UJ PEETS is working in partnership with the ICCT, COJ, and Breathe Cities to roll out a real world emissions testing on vehicles that are driving around in the city. The role of UJ PEETS is to be involved in the onsite deployment and we will also be getting skills development and capacity building by being on the site and being part of the data analysis process with the service provider for the equipment. Thereafter all the data will be given back to the partners. We are hoping to be involved in a process of policy engagement and alignment for better and cleaner air in Johannesburg.”
Nokuthula Dubazane, Breathe Cities Portfolio Manager, said the initiative was rolling out in 14 cities across the world.
“The whole ambition is to cut air pollution and climate emission in cities. The data will be essential for this. The work we are doing here is generating data that can be used to inform policy. In South Africa we are working on Johannesburg, but we want the outputs to influence the regional policy interventions.”
She added that the data collection had already started and will be wrapped up by mid-August. The remote sensing technology analysis will go on until the end of the year and by June next year, the outcomes of this project will be made available.
The launch of the TRUE Initiative in Johannesburg marks a major milestone in UJ’s commitment to societal impact and sustainability.
