Assessing the relative contribution of various anthropogenic sources to atmospheric methane in Rivers State, Nigeria: A multi-criteria decision analysis approach

Abstract

Methane is a significant greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential many times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Its release from sources like landfills, agriculture, and the energy sector exacerbates climate change, making it crucial to monitor and reduce methane emissions to mitigate global warming and achieve climate goals. This research utilized the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to analyze the sources of atmospheric methane in Rivers State, Nigeria. It addressed the challenge of assessing the contributions of various anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuels, landfills, agriculture, wetlands, and oceans to atmospheric methane emissions. By incorporating expert opinions, literature reviews, and surveys, the study constructed a hierarchical model to prioritize these sources based on their impact. Findings identified fossil fuels and landfills as the main contributors. The study demonstrated MCDA's effectiveness in environmental analysis and provided a replicable framework for similar assessments in other regions, contributing to targeted emission mitigation and policy formulation efforts.