National Action Plan to Mitigate Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (Ghana)

Ghana's action plan to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) culminated from a multi-sector consultative process between 2016 and 2018. The process led to the identification and prioritisation of 16 SLCP mitigation measures across seven sectors. The 16 SLCP abatement measures are targeted at reducing emissions from dominant SLCPs like Methane (CH4), Black Carbon (BC) and long-lived climate pollutants (LLCPs) like Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Taking action on SLCPs can lead to substantial health, agriculture and climate benefits. The LEAP-IBC tool was used to conduct inventory of dominant SLCPs and LLCPs from 2010 to 2040. Methane is the most dominant SLCP and the second important LLCP (greenhouse gas) after carbon dioxide. The majority of methane is emitted from solid waste disposal to landfills whereas thermal electricity produces most of the carbon dioxide. Black carbon are mostly emitted from cooking with traditional biomass. The 16 identified SLCP and GHG abatement measures can together lead to a reduction of SLCPs and LLCPs as well as additional health, agriculture and climate benefits when fully implemented. The expected multiple benefits are associated with adopting alternative policy options in future relative to current policy failure scenarios. In most cases, the additional PAM+ (NDC scenario) and additional PAM++ (SLCP scenario) recorded the most positive effects. Adopting alternative policy options in the future compared with a 'current policy failure' scenario in which no additional policies and measures are implemented and policies and measures that have been committed to are not also not implemented.  Ghana needs to ensure implementation of the measures by making sure that the entire governmental structure is responsive to the measures by incorporating them into the development agenda. This will be the surest way to get the line ministries to mobilise and commit resources to ensure the timely implementation of the measures.