Impact of methane emissions on greenhouse gas emissions in selected sub-Saharan African countries: a comprehensive analysis and policy framework for mitigation strategies

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have a major impact on the environment, human health, and climate change. In addition, methane (CH4) is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas in the world, after carbon dioxide (CO2).This study investigates how methane emissions vary and are distributed throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular emphasis on how agricultural methods, animal production, waste management, and energy generation interact. The objective is to determine the main causes of methane emissions so that environmental management strategies can be informed. Using data from 85 observations, we evaluated the associations between methane emissions, animal production, fertilizer use, and agricultural land use using pooled OLS, random effects, and fixed effects models. The average methane emissions were 201.8 Mt CO2e, according to the results, with agriculture and livestock production accounting for the largest shares (80.3 Mt CO2e and 246 Mt CO2e, respectively). With 243.7 Mt CO2e, Nigeria was the largest emitter, primarily due to agriculture (50.33%) and substantial animal rearing (index: 106.1). Ethiopia came next with a livestock production index of 106.0 and 101.9 Mt CO2e. Tanzania and Uganda, on the other hand, showed more sustainable practices with lower emissions (38.56 Mt CO2e and 53.27 Mt CO2e, respectively) and livestock indices of 98.8 and 99.8. Furthermore, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) data on worldwide methane emissions, the energy sector which includes bioenergy and abandoned facilities contributes significantly to total emissions, whereas agriculture is responsible for about 137,270.61 kt of emissions. Notably, fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas infrastructure are substantial; by 2024, onshore oil venting is expected to produce 19,180.82 kt of pollutants. These results highlight the need for coordinated approaches that support better waste management, sustainable farming methods, and increased energy efficiency. In order to successfully reduce methane emissions, comprehensive strategies linking various sectors to effectively mitigate methane emissions.