ACE4ES Consortium Calls for Stronger Role of Agriculture in Ghana’s Climate Commitments
The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) Consortium is urging increased focus on agriculture as a critical sector in Ghana’s efforts to meet its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement.
Coordinated by the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), and supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the consortium is calling for urgent action to tackle short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and black carbon—pollutants predominantly linked to farming practices in Ghana.
“Agriculture contributes around 25% of Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions,” the Consortium stated. “It’s a major source of SLCPs, and tackling these emissions can yield fast climate benefits while improving air quality and livelihoods.”
Pollutants and Their Sources
Methane emissions stem largely from livestock and rice farming, while nitrous oxide results from fertilizer and manure usage. Black carbon, a byproduct of open biomass burning, also comes from widespread agricultural residue practices.
According to ACE4ES, addressing these emissions offers a “unique triple-win opportunity” for Ghana: mitigating climate change, improving public health, and enhancing food productivity.
Proposed Emission Reduction Targets
To accelerate progress toward Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the ACE4ES Consortium is proposing ambitious but achievable reduction targets, including:
- 25–30% reduction in methane emissions, through improved livestock and manure management and sustainable rice cultivation techniques such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
- At least 25% cut in nitrous oxide emissions, via optimized fertilizer application, better manure handling, and the adoption of biochar, composting, and integrated soil fertility practices.
- A 40% drop in black carbon emissions, through the elimination of open biomass burning, promotion of sustainable residue management, and a shift to agroforestry and cleaner household energy sources.
Collaboration and Capacity Building Needed
The Consortium emphasized the need for robust partnerships, capacity building, improved emissions data systems, and accessible financing mechanisms to achieve these goals.
“Transforming the agriculture sector is essential,” the group said. “But it will require policymakers, researchers, private sector actors, civil society, and farmers to work together. We’re committed to supporting that transformation through technical guidance and stakeholder engagement.”
A Broader Call to Action
ACE4ES is now calling on all stakeholders—government agencies, NGOs, researchers, development partners, and farmers—to align efforts in building a resilient, low-emission agriculture system. “Our message is clear: climate-smart agriculture is not just possible—it’s necessary,” the statement concluded.
