Why Africa Is On The Frontline Of Climate Risks And Opportunities

A new report from the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) warns that without rapid action to cut methane – one of the most powerful and overlooked greenhouse gases – the world could lock in up to 0.3°C of additional warming this decade. That difference could determine whether climate impacts remain manageable or push societies beyond their ability to adapt.

Methane has caused nearly half of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. Unlike CO₂, which lingers for centuries, methane lasts just over a decade. Yet in that time is more than 80 times more powerful. This creates a short closing window to pull the methane “emergency brake” before its impacts become irreversible.

That urgency is particularly stark for Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and agriculture alone contributes over half of its methane emissions. While more than 25 African nations have endorsed the Global Methane Pledge, implementation has been slow, leaving food systems and economies highly exposed.

The CCAG report sets out proven, low-cost solutions across agriculture, energy, and waste that could cut global methane emissions by 45% by 2030. These include stricter rules for industrial farming, support for smallholders to access training and finance, better manure and rice management, and methane capture from waste. Combined, these measures would slow heating while protecting harvests, improving public health, and strengthening resilience.

The report, which is available on https://www.ccag.earth/reports/methane-the-emergency-brake-for-climate-heating, recommends the following:

• Energy: Stop the venting of methane and ban routine flaring, mandate leak detection and repair, and require transparent emissions reporting
• Agriculture: Impose strict methane limits on large industrial farms, promote better feeds and rice cultivation, and support smallholders with finance and training
• Waste: Mandate universal waste collection and separation, divert all organic waste from landfill, and reform food systems to cut waste at the source

Agnes Kalibata, UN Secretary General Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit and former Rwandan Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said:

“This report comes at a critical time. As climate change intensifies and its impacts become more severe, agriculture suffers more than any other sector, especially in Africa. The latest CCAG report highlights that our hands are not tied – we could use methane removal to put an emergency brake on climate deterioration and therefore climate change.

Unfortunately, we are now caught in a chicken-and-egg situation: agriculture suffers most from climate change, yet it contributes significantly to greenhouse gases. This report shows that with the technologies at our disposal, it is possible to significantly reduce methane release, and we are able to slow climate change in our lifetime. To achieve this goal, we must act now.”

Sir David King, Chair of CCAG, said:

“Methane is the emergency brake on climate heating that we simply must pull. Across Africa, where agriculture is a central pillar of the economy, failing to act on these solutions amounts to investing in the region’s own downfall.

The solutions are here, they are affordable, and they deliver immediate benefits for health, food security, and livelihoods. What’s missing is political will and finance. This report shows leaders exactly how to pull the brakes, and clearly demonstrates that if we don’t act now, we will soon lose our last real solution to slow near-term warming.”

Read Also: One Carbon World joins Carbon Markets Africa Summit as official climate impact partner