Chad launches national effort to tackle air pollution and methane

The initiative will support development of a national plan for the reduction of SLCPs and a national methane roadmap, led by Chad’s Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development with support from SEI, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and UN-Habitat. The process was officially launched on 24 February 2026 in the capital city of N’Djamena, where government officials, scientists and development partners gathered to begin shaping a national strategy for reducing climate pollutants that affect both the environment and public health.

Climate and air pollution challenges

Located along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, Chad faces mounting climate pressures. Nearly two-thirds of the country lies within desert or semi-desert landscapes, and rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and expanding desertification increasingly affect ecosystems, agriculture and livelihoods.

Air pollution is also a major environmental concern. Mineral dust from the Sahara is the country’s dominant source of airborne particles, making Chad one of the most dust-exposed regions in the world. Persistent exposure to fine particulate matter carried in this dust can lead to serious health problems, including asthma, respiratory infections and chronic lung disease.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, exposure to particulate matter has been linked to nearly 400 000 preventable infant deaths each year, with as many as 40% of infant deaths in the region associated with exposure to particulate air pollution. The impacts are particularly severe in areas where health systems are already under pressure.

A significant share of this dust originates from the Bodélé Depression in northern Chad, a dry prehistoric lakebed considered one of the most active dust-producing regions on Earth. Scientists estimate that the area may generate roughly half of the mineral dust originating from the Sahara.

During the Harmattan season, which typically occurs between November and March, strong winds sweep through the corridor formed by the Tibesti Mountains and the Ennedi Plateau. This natural wind tunnel lifts massive plumes of dust into the atmosphere, sometimes carrying particles across the Sahara and even as far as the Amazon rainforest.

While desert dust dominates the country’s air pollution profile, human activities also contribute to declining air quality. Urban vehicle emissions, crop burning, industrial activity and widespread use of biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal for cooking all add to the air pollution burden, affecting both climate and public health.

Monitoring these impacts remains difficult. Across much of Sub-Saharan Africa, air quality monitoring systems are limited by inconsistent electricity supply, weak internet connectivity, and the challenges of maintaining equipment in remote environments frequently exposed to dust storms. These gaps often leave policymakers and scientists with limited real-time data to fully understand pollution patterns and design effective interventions.

Building national capacity for climate action

The launch workshop in N’Djamena brought together representatives from sectoral ministries, national technical institutions, academia and development partners to begin developing a strategic national response.

The event was presided over by Koularambaye Koundja Julien, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, marking the official start of a national process to strengthen climate planning and identify practical strategies to reduce SCLPs and methane emissions.

Participants worked to align priorities and establish a pathway toward for developing a National SLCP Plan, a National Methane Roadmap, and an integrated monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) framework to track emissions and mitigation progress.

A key component of the workshop focused on technical training using SEI’s Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP), a modelling tool widely used to analyse energy systems, emissions pathways and mitigation scenarios. Through a series of presentations and practical exercises, participants learned how to analyse historical emissions trends and model potential mitigation strategies across sectors such as energy, agriculture, waste management and industry.

The training program combines daily learning sessions with independent exercises supported by online materials and tutorials. By strengthening national technical capacity to analyse emissions data and evaluate policy scenarios, the initiative aims to equip Chad with stronger tools for evidence-based climate decision-making.

As the process moves forward, the national SLCP plan and methane roadmap are expected to guide policies that improve air quality, support climate mitigation and strengthen environmental resilience across the country.