Togo - National planning on short-lived climate pollutants

Home to almost 8 million people, the West African country of Togo is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, crop yields, extreme weather events, and vulnerable populations. At the same time, a significant portion of the population is consistently exposed to levels of indoor and outdoor air pollution that exceed Worth Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. In 2013, it was estimated that this exposure was responsible for over 3,448 premature deaths in the country derived principally from the energy, transport, waste, and agriculture sectors.

Despite their small contribution to global emissions, Togo has developed an ambitious plan to address these two challenges simultaneously in view of their development imperatives. In tandem with their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the National Plan for the Reduction of Air and Short-Lived Climate Pollutants adopted in 2019 would lead to direct in-country benefits derived from SLCP mitigation measures. The implementation of all 14 measures would lead to a reduction of fine particles by more than 70% by 2040 compared to baseline scenarios, a 67% reduction in black carbon and nitrogen oxides, and a 56% reduction in methane. Full implementation of the measures would also reduce Togo’s CO2 emissions by 38% in 2040, achieving the country’s climate change mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Objectives

The objectives of the support provided by the SNAP Initiative is to provide technical assistance and funding for Togo to undertake a national planning process on short-lived climate pollutants, and implement resulting mitigation measures, specifically:
    

  • Assessing the current status and outlook of the magnitude of short-lived climate pollutant emissions, policies and measures that will address emissions, and opportunities for further mitigation
  • Strengthening the case for the implementation of existing strategies, policies and plans that will reduce emissions
  • Increasing awareness and political will to act on air quality and climate issues by better demonstrating the multiple benefits of action
  • Mainstreaming further action on short-lived climate pollutants into existing strategies, policies and plans
  • Identifying gaps in existing legislations and plans and defining new actions that need to be taken - from actions focused on specific sources, to new legislation and plans
  • Ensuring coherence and integration between air quality and climate objectives and interventions
What we're doing

Phase I – Institutional Strengthening Support - Complete

In 2014, Togo expressed interest in taking part in the institutional strengthening element of the SNAP initiative, aimed at further coordinating or scaling up action on SLCPs and increasing participation in the CCAC. Over a two-year period, Togo received financial and technical support to recruit personnel for activities related to SLCPs, and additional support for the implementation of project workplans and subsequent monitoring from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), UNEP and the CCAC. The main results were an increased awareness on issues related to short-lived climate pollutants within the ministries and increased engagement in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition initiatives.

Phase II – National Planning Support - Complete

Building on the results of institutional strengthening efforts, a national SLCP planning processes began in 2016. The national team, with the support of the SNAP initiative conducted extensive consultation with sectoral stakeholders and relevant Ministries to collect and analyze information on SLCP emissions and identify mitigation opportunities. An analysis of the emissions of major pollutants and develop emission scenarios was developed using the LEAP-IBC tool. As a result of these efforts, 14 mitigation measures were identified across numerous sectors including the forestry, transport, waste, energy, and agriculture. 11 of these measures were issued from Togo’s NDC. These findings were then integrated into the National Plan for the Reduction of Air and Short-Lived Climate Pollutants which was adopted by the Minister of Environment and Forest Resources in 2020.

In line with Togo’s development imperatives, the national plan aims to implement priority measures and actions which will significantly reduce SLCPs, in turn improving air quality, fighting against climate change, and realizing co-benefits such as improved health and agricultural productivity. Mitigation measures target a comprehensive range of SLCPs including methane, black carbon, fine particulate emissions, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Compared to a 2020 baseline scenario, the full implementation of all measures would lead to a 67% reduction in black carbon, a 70% reduction in fine particulate matter, a 56% methane reduction significant reduction, and a 67% reduction in nitrogen oxides by 2040. The most significant reductions will be related to the household and charcoal production sectors through the extension of improved wood and charcoal fireplaces.

Phase III – Ongoing

Following the endorsement of the national SLCP plan, a workplan was established between the Togo and the SNAP initiative in support of its coordination of the implementation. With the support of a consultant, SNAP, and SEI, The Climate Change Control Division (DLCC) of the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development and Nature Protection will coordinate and implement the following activities:

  • Raise awareness on the National Plan to Reduce SLCPs
  • Support the implementation of the National SLCP Plan through the organization of technical sectoral workshops and the identification of additional mitigation activities
  • Support capacity building and reinforcement in each sector to produce activity plans and in the Climate Change Division for integrated analysis of climate change and air pollution using the LEAP-IBC tool
  • Advance the implementation of mitigation measures in priority sectors such as household energy including the identification of alternative cooking technologies and alternative fuels
  • Integrate the reduction of SLCP emissions into development plans, obtain financing, and assess the impacts of reducing emission
  • Coordinate, collaborate and oversee the implementation of activities with the CCAC
       
Participants in Togo's SNAP workshop

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