Greener Impact International, partners launch campaign to tackle methane emission in Ghana

Greener Impact International (GII) with support from the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) has launched Campaign Against Methane Emissions in Ghana (CAMEG) to promote efforts that reduce methane and contribute to the country's climate change goals.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is over 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

At the global climate conference COP26 held in Scotland in 2021, countries representing 45% of global methane emissions pledged to reduce emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.

Ghana has also committed to tackling methane as part of its climate action plans and Nationally Determined Contributions.

"In fact, greenhouse gasses are very important, but they are also dangerous. Methane is one of the global warming gasses that causes a lot of havoc to the atmosphere, even though it doesn't stay in the atmosphere for long, it has much stronger potency compared to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses.

“That's why it's important that as a country, we look at where these gasses are coming from, and then try to put in place plans and structures to be able to reduce, if not completely eliminate them," noted Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Director of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation at the Environmental Protection Agency at the launch on Tuesday, August 6.

The CAMEG campaign aims to raise awareness about the impacts of methane on climate change and health, as well as mobilize citizens and organizations to take action.

Speaking at the launch, Timothy Apeanti of GII, noted: “Our target is to raise awareness in the Ghanaian public that tackling methane is one way of not just dealing with climate change, but also ensuring healthy living.”

“Because one other issue is that methane gas is one of the most pollutant gasses that we can get germs coming from our waste field sites or waste sites can all be addressed with the impact of methane, or as we generate methane gas," noted Mr. Apeanti.

The campaign will be carried out with government agencies, local authorities, NGOs and the public to promote methane reduction strategies across key sectors like waste, agriculture and energy.