Environmental Protection: Agricultural Mitigation Project Launched

Cameroon’s economy is standing at a crossroads, one where the nation’s dependence on agriculture collides with its ambition to meet global climate goals. On 18 September 2025, government officials, climate experts, and agricultural stakeholders met in Yaounde to launch a project designed to cut methane emissions (a harmful gas released by plants, animals, or waste breakdown) in rice production and livestock farming, two of the country’s most vital but also most polluting sub-sectors. “The speed at which short lived climate pollutants can be removed from the atmosphere presents an opportunity for quick and coordinated action to address global warming,” said the Director of Cameroon Environmental Watch, a non-governmental organisation, at the launch. “If Cameroon reduces methane now, it can deliver near-term climate benefits while boosting food security”, he added. According to statistics, agriculture accounts for approximately 15-20 per cent of Cameroon’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs nearly 70 per cent of the population either directly or indirectly. Rice and cattle are key contributors to household incomes, food security, and rural employment. But short lived climate pollutants cause over 110 million tonnes of crop losses each year. In his keynote address, Minister Hele Pierre underscored the urgency of the task ahead. “A system must be put in place to control, neutralise and prevent the increase of these harmful gases. This is...