In POLCA, two cities are investigated: Dakar and Bamako

Among the Key Sustainability Challenges in the both : Air quality

Air quality in Dakar is poor mostly due to heavy traffic congestion and use of aged and diesel motorized vehicles (read more). Climatological characteristics are driven by marine conditions due to the city location within a peninsula.

Air quality is Bamako is a crucial problem according the public transportation i.e motorcycles using motorcycles with poor-quality fuel, Sotrama (old small buses); and the aged fleet of other vehicles. Moreover, the atmosphere of Bamako often presents a high charge of Saharan dust coming with the Harmattan fuxes or resuspended by local conditions. Finally, the geographical configuration of the city within a basin creates air masses stagnation leading to strong air pollution.