Methane action for people and planet from discovery to solution: the Angera Declaration, what are the implications for Africa?

Methane is an invisible, potent greenhouse gas and forms a short-lived climate pollutant, damaging people’s health and crop yields. The major sources of methane are agriculture, the oil and gas sector and waste management. 

The Angera Declaration emphasizes the need for coordinated technological and political actions to reduce methane emissions. It aligns with efforts such as the African Methane Community of Practice (AMCoP), the African Clean Air Forum and the African Clean Air Program (ACAP), all of which advance the broader aims of the Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa.

The Declaration underscores the importance of ongoing initiatives on the continent in numerous ways, including:

• Accelerating the creation of meaningful links in the atmospheric research community in Africa, such as the African Group on Atmospheric Sciences, Global Emissions Initiative, Global Atmospheric Watch, and other national and regional entities.
• Integrating methane within a holistic climate strategy: methane mitigation strategies must be part of any climate framework and the Integrated Assessment has shown what actions can be taken.
• Urging sustained international cooperation to tackle methane. There is opportunity for the African continent to work with global colleagues at national, sub-regional and continental levels to develop and implement technologies that are scalable and suitable to local needs.

The Declaration, in combination with the Integrated Assessment, builds momentum for greater action on methane and could catalyze sustainable growth across the continent.