NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 22 – Africa faces heightened risks from climate change unless urgent action is taken to curb methane emissions, according to a new report by the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG).
The report warns that methane—responsible for nearly half of global warming since the Industrial Revolution and more than 80 times more powerful than CO₂ over a 20-year period—could lock in up to 0.3°C of additional warming this decade if unchecked.
Unlike carbon dioxide, which persists in the atmosphere for centuries, methane lasts just over a decade, making its reduction the fastest way to slow climate change in the near term.
The urgency is particularly sharp for Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Agriculture alone contributes more than half of its methane emissions, yet food systems, economies, and livelihoods remain highly exposed. More than 25 African countries have endorsed the Global Methane Pledge, but implementation has lagged.
The CCAG outlines proven, low-cost solutions that could cut global methane emissions by 45% by 2030. These include stricter rules for industrial farming, better manure and rice management, methane capture from waste, and support for smallholder farmers through training and finance. The measures, it says, would slow global heating while safeguarding harvests, improving health, and boosting resilience.
Among its recommendations:
- Energy: Ban venting and routine flaring, enforce leak detection, and require transparent emissions reporting.
- Agriculture: Impose limits on large farms, promote improved animal feed and rice cultivation, and provide smallholder support.
- Waste: Mandate universal collection and separation, divert organic waste from landfills, and capture methane at dumpsites.
Agnes Kalibata, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, said agriculture remains both a victim and a driver of climate change. “We are caught in a chicken-and-egg situation: agriculture suffers most from climate change, yet it contributes significantly to greenhouse gases,” she noted.
CCAG Chair Sir David King said failing to act would undercut Africa’s economic future. “Methane is the emergency brake on climate heating that we must pull. The solutions are here, affordable, and deliver immediate benefits. What’s missing is political will and finance,” he said.
The report stresses that pulling this “emergency brake” could be decisive for Africa’s climate resilience, food security, and sustainable development in the decade ahead.
