European Journal of Engineering Science and Technology

South African Industries and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: An Analysis of Key Sectors and Mitigation Strategies

2026-02-19T12:40:17+00:00

South Africa, a leading economic hub in Africa, significantly contributes to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions due to its reliance on carbon-intensive industries. This reliance contributes to emissions across major sectors, including the energy generation sector, the mining sector, which is characterized by significant Scope 2 electricity consumption and Scope 3 value chain emissions, the manufacturing sector, and the transportation sector. This study examines the primary sectors mentioned as the driving force to emissions. The analysis is based on trends, key drivers, and potential mitigation strategies grounded by recent studies and government reports. The broader energy sector is the dominant contributor, accounting for approximately 80% of South Africa’s CO₂ total emissions, primarily due to coal-based power generation. Manufacturing, including steel and cement production, contributes significantly due to high energy consumption and process-related emissions. The transportation sector, driven by fossil fuel-dependent road and freight systems, adds to the emissions profile, though to a lesser extent. Emission trends show a steady increase over the past decade, with South Africa’s per capita emissions among the highest in Africa. Key drivers include heavy reliance on coal, outdated infrastructure, and limited adoption of renewable energy. Mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewables like solar, wind and hydro power improving energy efficiency, and adopting carbon capture technologies. Policy democratisation is important through engaging communities and engaging industries in decision making to balance economic growth and emissions reduction. Technological interventions, such as green hydrogen and electrified transport, offer further potential. Implementing these measures is critical for sustainable development in South Africa.

Accelerating the Deployment of Smart Urban Mobility Solutions through Collaborative Knowledge Platforms and Data-Driven Simulation: A Civitas Batteries and Mobility Study

2026-06-09T06:22:01+00:00

Contemporary European cities face urgent pressure to decarbonise urban transport systems while sustaining economic competitiveness and social equity. This paper examines the BATTERIES and MOBILITY project, a funded component of the European CIVITAS initiative as a coordinated mechanism to valorise, cross-fertilise, and disseminate innovative sustainable mobility solutions across European municipalities. A MATLAB-based computational simulation is developed to model the cumulative effects of collaborative knowledge exchange, electric vehicle (EV) deployment, and peer-to-peer learning on average urban travel time and daily CO₂ emissions. The simulation applies an exponential decay function parameterised against empirical baseline and Day-30 endpoint data for three representative cities drawn from a 15-city CIVITAS-affiliated European dataset. Results indicate that coordinated knowledge-sharing programmes combined with progressive EV adoption rates of 12–20% of vehicle fleet yield travel time reductions of 13–20% and daily CO₂ emission reductions of 10–18%, computed via an established diesel vehicle emission factor of 0.1271 kg CO₂ per kilometre. A one-at-a-time sensitivity analysis confirms robustness under ±20% perturbations in the learning-rate parameter. Furthermore, structured knowledge platforms and city-twinning mechanisms are found to reduce solution adoption lead times by 30–40%, with commensurate modal shifts away from private vehicle use. The findings provide a policy-relevant, reproducible framework consistent with the European Green Deal and Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy objectives for climate-neutral mobility by 2050.

Dispersion Analysis of Nonlocal Elastic Waves in Thin Plates: Nonlocal Elastic Waves Dispersion in Thin Plates

2026-06-11T05:07:33+00:00

This research investigates the propagation of elastic waves in uniform thin plates using the framework of nonlocal elasticity theory. Focusing on plates with stress-free boundary surfaces, the study derives and analyses two distinct dispersion relations corresponding to symmetrical and antisymmetrical wave modes with respect to the plate’s mid-plane. Owing to this symmetry, the plate can effectively be treated as two identical halves, which simplifies the mathematical analysis while preserving the essential physical behaviour of the system. The study further examines the influence of the nonlocality parameter on the dispersion characteristics of both wave modes, showing that small-scale effects significantly modify wave propagation compared with predictions from classical elasticity theory. In addition to the general formulation, the paper also considers several limiting cases to validate the model and clarify its physical implications under special conditions. Numerical computations and graphical illustrations are included to provide a clearer picture of how nonlocal effects alter wave behaviour, emphasizing their specific role in shaping the dispersion response of thin plate structures.