Anaerobic digestion impact on the adaptation to climate change in São Tomé and Príncipe

Abstract

The present study evaluated a pilot scale project's impact-"Bioenergy in São Tomé and Príncipe (STP)", to install small anaerobic digesters-on greenhouse gases emissions. At STP, wood is a subsistence fuel source and it is imperative to develop more sustainable alternatives to it and for waste management. For this study, 3 communities were chosen: Santa Jenny, Novo Destino, and Mendes da Silva. Emissions were estimated before and after the implementation using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's methodology for national inventories, considering the categories: Energy; Agriculture, Forest, and Other Land Use; Waste. Under the established conditions and for said population and sectors, a reduction of 20% of yearly emissions is expected. The use of human waste could increase the reduction to 58%. Expansion to the remaining families of these communities could imply a 97% diminishment and to other similar communities, a 25% reduction of national emissions was predicted. (c) 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, London, UK.