Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions exceeding its sink capacity

Abstract

Rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Africa is a cause for concern. With a growing population and its associated requirements for energy, food and socio-economic development, climate change impacts will further exacerbate the current trend. A recent greenhouse gas budget for Africa synthesised the most current and comprehensive modelling and observational data available for the period 2010-2019 (Ernst et al. 2024), showing that the continent has likely become a net carbon source to the atmosphere. In this Research brief, the key findings of the GHG budget for Africa is highlighted.