Johannesburg has just kicked off a major climate milestone. On Monday, 21 July 2025, the University of Johannesburg’s Process, Energy & Environment Technology Station (UJ-PEETS), in collaboration with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), officially launched the TRUE Initiative, a first-of-its-kind project using remote sensing tech to measure the real emissions coming from the cars, taxis, and trucks on our roads every day.
Using advanced roadside remote sensing technology, this is the first time South Africa will collect large-scale, real-time data on actual vehicle emissions. Over 100,000 vehicles will be measured, from minibus taxis to SUVs, to paint a detailed picture of what’s really happening on our streets. Until now, Joburg didn’t have this kind of accurate data to drive targeted, effective policy.
