A race for the lowest 'carbon footprint'

The reason? The WWF EcoMobility Challenge, a WWF South Africa initiative held in association with the City of Johannesburg, aimed at demonstrating the solutions available to tackle climate change, while at the same time highlighting the benefits in shifting to public from private transport. Held during the month-long global EcoMobility World Festival, the Challenge saw teams of racers navigating a series of destination checkpoints across Johannesburg using only public transport, minibus taxi, or electric or non-motorised transport.

Supporting EcoMobility Festival

Kicking off at the WWF building in Braamfontein, Lisa Seftel, Executive Director of Transport for the City of Joburg, opened the race and gave the teams their first clue.

The race

The teams worked hard puzzling out clues which led them to Hector Pieterson Square, to Orlando Stadium, to Maponya Mall and on to the Sanlam building in Sandton. Armed only with maps, public transport timetables and other tools to guide them, and their commitment to the cause, all strategised with the end goal in mind - to be the team with the lowest 'carbon footprint' to cross the endpoint before the cut-off time.

Passing through Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto

Racers' adventures included tackling the Rea Vaya interchanges, fighting off other commuters for spots on eTukTuk, learning the signs to "uptown" and "downtown" when hailing minibus taxis, walking for kilometres in the current heat wave, and riding bicycles, something many racers, including Miss South Africa Liesl Laurie, admitted to not having done in several years. "The experience was phenomenal. I had not ridden a bike in 10 years and today made me realise what I have been missing."

Maps Maponyane, one of SA's most loved celebrities, also went EcoMobile in support of the cause and highlighted the benefits in shifting to public transport, which include less congestion, lower infrastructure costs, health benefits, and local economic development, "there are no parking issues, it saves costs, and it's easy to travel in large numbers," he said.

Regardless of the modes of transport used, all racers were in agreement that the challenge provided them the chance to meet lots of similar-minded people and engage in a fun-filled day of laughter, while at the same time visiting parts of Joburg they would not otherwise have seen, or at least had not visited in many years. "It was a great way to see and explore the city from different perspectives," said Maponyane. "At the same time, realising the several modes of transport one could use in order to lessen their carbon footprint, and their impact on our city, through our daily emissions."

The winning team

With all said and done (and walked and ran and cycled), it was a team comprising Graeme Stephens (CEO of Sun International), Liesl Laurie (Miss South Africa), Bongani Xakaza (South African National Energy Development Institute or SANEDI) and Innocent Nkosi (University of Johannesburg) who came out tops.

From beginning to end, the team that won were carbon-conscious about the modes of transport they used and walked or cycled whenever the distance allowed. At one Rea Vaya interchange, they chose not to catch the bus for the second part of that stage and rather walked. On the trip from Park Station to Sandton, they caught a minibus taxi, which had a lower footprint than the Gautrain - which most teams opted for - and then walked to the closing ceremony instead of taking an eTukTuk. According to Graeme Stephens, they "couldn't have been more eco-friendly."

The prize

Valli Moosa, Chair of the WWF South Africa board handed the team that won their prize, but it was not all fun and games. MMC of Transport, Councillor Christine Walters, who also took part in the Challenge, then addressed the awards ceremony on the City's Strategic Integrated Transport Plan and how this addresses climate change.

"A group of people from different cultures, different age group, different academic and work backgrounds committed to one purpose - today, we practically displayed that we can lessen our carbon emission footprint by choosing instead to travel via Rea Vaya, Gautrain, minibus taxi, cycling, walking and electric car", said Walters.

Louise Naudé, WWF South Africa's lead on low-carbon transport and climate change, expressed the harsh reality: "There is a serious need for national governments at COP21 to increase their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - the gases driving climate change. The pledges they have put on the table fall far short of the reductions we need if we are to keep average global warming below 2°C. What's scary is that at 2°C globally, Africa will be up to between 3°C and 4°C. Climate change could reverse all the developmental gains we have made."

CEO of WWF-SA, Morné du Plessis, who participated in the Challenge to get first-hand experience of the types of transport options in Johannesburg, while hearing what regular commuters think about their commute, really enjoyed the challenge and connecting with the people of Jozi. "I was surprised to see the willingness of the people of Johannesburg to engage with strangers who wanted to ask them questions about transport. As individuals, we can reduce our own carbon footprint in many ways. But the single biggest contribution we can make is to 'change the way you move' as the City's theme says. Our race today showed the way," he said.

Showing support for public transport and low carbon emissions

"The race would not have been possible without the generous support of transport service providers Gautrain, Rea Vaya, Metrorail, Metrobus, minibus taxis, bicycles from Lebo's Soweto Backpackers, eTukTuk and the Nissan Leaf; apps Findalift for ride-sharing and Findmyway which puts public transport in your palm; hosts along the way at Hector Pieterson Memorial, Orlando Stadium, Maponya Mall, Park Station, EcoMobility Festival Exhibition and Sanlam who spoilt us with goodies, food and the closing venue; and other sponsors in kind or time Ernest & Young, Hollard, Sun International and Vivreau Water.

Most of all, we celebrate the racers who donated their enthusiasm and time, and spread the message far and wide. The City of Joburg backed us all the way and we hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship. All those who took part can take pride in the fact that insights gained through the challenge will add to existing City programmes and feed into WWF's low-carbon transport programme. Together we can make a difference," concludes Naudé.