Ethiopia to launch Car-Free Day in December

Ethiopia is set to launch a nationwide car-free day starting next month in a bid to encourage green transportation.

The East African country will close roads in major cities for a limited period of time on December 9, as Ethiopians are encouraged to walk and use bicycles, the Minister of Health Amir Aman said.

We are launching nationwide #CarFreeDay initiative beginning Sunday Dec. 9! Everyone is encouraged to go Car-Free & engage in bike ride????walking????‍♀️& running????‍♀️on the day. Roads in major cities will be cleared for a limited time for mass sport, health screening & educational events. pic.twitter.com/dkQNfa9oUZ

— Amir Aman, MD (@amirabiy) November 21, 2018

The government of Rwanda launched the Car-Free Day in 2016, saying the move was prompted by a need to encourage exercise and promote green transport, thereby reducing carbon emission by motor vehicles.

Following Rwanda’s success in introducing the Car-Free Day, other countries have also mulled taking up the idea, including Kenya.

A World Car-Free Day is also celebrated worldwide every year around September 22, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Car-Free Days are a massive opportunity for cities to realize how much pollution affects lives.

Vehicle emissions are one of the main sources of outdoor air pollution, particularly in cities. Ambient air pollution alone caused some 4.2 million deaths in 2016, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Transport is also the fastest growing source of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions, the largest contributor to climate change.

All around the world, countries use the Car-Free Days to champion for environment friendly means of transport: From races for alternative-energy powered vehicles in Budapest, to horse-riding in São Paulo, to street picnics in Vienna, to running in Jakarta.