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TED Talks Daily

How to pull the emergency brake on global warming | Mohamed A. Sultan

with Mohamed A. Sultan

Published October 22, 2025
View Show Notes

About This Episode

Host Elise Hu introduces a TED Talk by sustainability strategist Mohamed A. Sultan about the urgency and opportunity of cutting methane emissions, especially across the African continent. Sultan explains how methane from landfills, fossil fuels, and agriculture significantly drives global warming, and highlights concrete African examples in waste management, energy, and rice cultivation that reduce methane while improving public health, jobs, and food security. He argues that better governance, finance, and development models can simultaneously build resilience, advance economic development, and lower methane emissions worldwide.

Topics Covered

Methane emissions Climate finance Renewable energy and decarbonization Climate change and agriculture Food systems Rice cultivation Smallholder farmers Sustainability Environmental justice Ecosystem ecology

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Quick Takeaways

  • Methane is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, responsible for up to 45% of current net warming and 86 times more potent than CO2 at trapping heat over 20 years.
  • Halving global methane emissions over the next 20 years could slow the rate of warming by about 0.3°C, offering a critical short-term lifeline, especially for vulnerable regions like Africa.
  • Burning landfills and gas flaring sites across African cities and the Niger Delta create serious public health risks while wasting resources that could be better managed.
  • Community-driven circular economy projects, like organic waste composting in Durban, can reduce methane, cut costs, create jobs, and improve urban green spaces.
  • Shifting new power generation in Africa toward renewables and enforcing regulations on fossil fuel operators can both enhance energy security and cut methane emissions.
  • Rice farming methods such as alternate wetting and drying, used by thousands of farmers near Accra, can conserve water, maintain productivity, and lower methane emissions.
  • Africa already faces large economic losses and rising adaptation costs due to climate change, making short-term vulnerability reduction an imperative, not a luxury.
  • Scaling methane reduction requires stronger governance, accurate data, effective regulation, and improved access to domestic and international capital.
  • Sultan suggests reframing low-methane outcomes as a co-benefit of building safer cities, resilient food systems, and diversified energy systems that serve people better.

Podcast Notes

Host introduction and framing of the episode

TED Talks Daily show context

Elise Hu introduces TED Talks Daily as a show that brings new ideas to spark curiosity every day.[2:52]
She identifies herself as the host, Elise Hu.[2:54]

Set-up of methane and landfills as the topic

Elise notes that the smell of landfills is not the worst problem they create.[2:54]
She introduces methane as an odorless, invisible gas that is dangerous to health and well-being.[3:08]
She previews that the talk will showcase sustainable development projects across Africa as alternative pathways to low methane emissions.[3:16]
She emphasizes that reducing methane is good for the planet and for people everywhere.[3:27]

Opening of Mohamed A. Sultan's talk: why methane from landfills is dangerous

Personal and sensory introduction to landfills

Sultan asks the audience if they have ever smelled a landfill, using the unpleasant odor as a hook.[3:29]
He states that the smell is probably not the worst thing landfills produce; methane gases are.[3:40]

Methane characteristics and landfill fires

Sultan explains that methane is an odorless gas that cannot be seen or smelled until it catches fire.[3:47]
He notes that methane fires at landfills have been occurring in many African cities.[3:50]
• He lists Dakar, Accra, Kampala, Osaka, and the recent fire at the Pietermaritzburg landfill in South Africa as examples.
He invites the audience to imagine being one of the thousands of children affected by such a fire.[3:58]
• He describes symptoms like tighter chests and sharper headaches with every breath, calling the situation unacceptable.

How landfill conditions create methane

Sultan notes that landfills catch fire for many reasons, one of which is the ongoing flow of organic waste.[4:08]
He explains that organic waste decays in the absence of oxygen, creating conditions for methane to form.[4:14]

Known solutions for dangerous landfills

He says there are many known ways to solve the problem of dangerous landfills.[4:20]
Key measures include stopping the production of so much waste and reducing what is sent to landfills.[4:24]
He adds that sorting and treating existing waste and radically improving landfill governance are also needed.[4:28]
He emphasizes that doing this "homework" brings immediate benefits, especially for nearby populations.[4:32]
• Immediate benefits include improved air quality and reduced risk of landfill fires.
He links addressing methane from landfills to tackling global climate change.[4:46]

Methane as a powerful greenhouse gas and its climate impact

Sultan's professional background and perspective

Sultan identifies himself as a social and economic development professional.[4:48]
He says he has spent most of his career examining how the African continent transforms to meet people's demands and ambitions.[4:54]
• He says his work is at the intersection of democracy, security, and economic opportunity.
He notes it has always been clear to him that sustainable development requires embedding climate into planning.[5:02]
After joining the Global Methane Hub, he realized effective climate progress also requires methane action.[5:10]

Quantifying methane's role in warming

Sultan states methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has contributed up to 45% of the net warming experienced today.[5:16]
He explains methane is 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over 20 years.[5:26]
He acknowledges that many actions are needed simultaneously to address both climate and development challenges.[5:32]
Long-term decarbonization is described as one of the primary goals.[5:38]

Methane reduction as an additional opportunity

Sultan frames methane mitigation as an additional opportunity alongside decarbonization.[5:42]
He says that if global methane emissions can be reduced by 50% over the next 20 years, the rate of global warming could be lowered by 0.3°C.[5:52]
He concedes that 0.3°C may not sound like much but calls it a lifeline.[5:56]
He describes methane reduction as one of the most effective known ways to reduce short-term climate-induced vulnerability.[6:04]

Africa's vulnerability to climate change and evolving emissions

Economic losses and adaptation costs in Africa

Sultan stresses that methane-related vulnerability is critically important for Africa, which is disproportionately affected by climate change.[6:12]
He states that Africa loses up to 5% of its yearly economic output to adverse climate events.[6:16]
He notes that the costs of adapting African societies and economies to a changing climate are skyrocketing.[6:22]
• He quantifies these adaptation costs as upwards of 50 billion dollars.
He concludes that reducing short-term vulnerability is an imperative, not a "nice to have," as societies build toward long-term resilience.[6:32]

Sectors responsible for vulnerability-inducing emissions

Sultan explains that 60% of these vulnerability-inducing emissions come from sectors traditionally associated with economic progress.[6:40]
He lists fossil fuel energy, waste management and sanitation, and agriculture (including rice production and livestock) as these sectors.[6:46]
He notes that some regions emit much more than others and must do more, and faster, to address their emissions for collective goals to be met.[6:56]

Africa's changing emissions profile and dual challenge

Sultan states that Africa currently has a lower emissions footprint than many other regions, but this is changing.[6:58]
He attributes this change to growing populations and expanding economies.[7:04]
He describes a duality: Africa must adopt a new development model that rapidly lifts people out of poverty and creates dignity while minimizing emissions that cause vulnerability.[7:14]
He notes that this shift toward a different model of development is already happening in many ways on the continent.[7:28]

Community-driven landfill and waste solutions in Durban

Contrasting burning landfills with Durban's approach

Sultan asks the audience to recall the burning landfills previously described, then contrasts them with a different picture emerging in Durban.[7:32]

Partnerships to divert organic waste

He explains that organizations including civil society, government officials, and research institutions have partnered in Durban.[7:38]
Their aim is to ensure that no or less organic waste ends up in a landfill 35 kilometers outside the city, thus limiting methane emissions.[7:44]
They have partnered with two of the largest city fruit and vegetable markets.[7:50]
Instead of discarding unused or unsold produce, they collect it and transform it into an asset by composting it.[7:56]

Results and co-benefits of the Durban composting initiative

Over two years, the project has diverted 277 tons of organic waste away from the landfill.[8:06]
Sultan notes that the initiative has created sustainable, safe, well-paying jobs for the community.[8:10]
He says it has reduced the city's costs for landfilling and transportation.[8:11]
The compost improves the quality of city parks that families can enjoy.[8:15]
He highlights these as real benefits that also reduce methane.[8:22]
He characterizes this as the power of community-driven action underpinned by a circular economy approach.[8:26]
He says such efforts must be supported by better policy, better financing, and improved governance to contribute to systemic change.[8:38]

Methane from fossil fuels and the need for regulation

Energy needs and renewable expansion in Africa

Sultan moves to the topic of energy, especially fossil fuels, calling them a major contributor to global methane emissions.[8:43]
He states that the fossil fuel sector is one where methane can be abated at cost in the short term.[8:50]
He emphasizes that Africa will need more energy for better development and calls this an existential question for the continent.[8:55]
He notes that 80% of new generation capacity coming online in Africa in the next few years will be from renewables.[9:02]
If paired with adequate investment and planning, this renewable build-out can accelerate diversification away from fossil fuels.[9:14]
He says such diversification is important for Africa's energy security and for abating emissions during the transition.[9:18]

Technical solutions the gas industry already knows

Sultan states that the oil and gas industry, especially gas, knows how to solve its methane emissions problem.[9:32]
He lists three key actions: reduce flaring, detect and plug leaks, and improve measurement, then repeat the cycle.[9:35]
He notes that the industry has the money to implement these solutions.[9:39]
He says it is not happening at the scale and speed required.[9:41]

Limits of voluntary commitments and role of regulation

Sultan argues that voluntary commitments are insufficient.[9:45]
He insists on the need for regulatory frameworks that compel core production to reduce emissions.[9:47]

Gas flaring in the Niger Delta as an example

Sultan shows a "gas flare," describing it as the burning of methane gas associated with oil extraction.[9:57]
He says it is as dangerous and wasteful as it appears.[9:59]
He links gas flares to high levels of respiratory diseases and high fevers, particularly in children.[10:07]
He notes that 2 million people in Nigeria's Niger Delta live within a 4-kilometer radius of a gas flare.[10:13]

Nigeria's regulatory response

Sultan proposes three actions in response to gas flaring: regulate, enforce, and track.[10:21]
He says the Nigerian government has passed progressive regulation to ban gas flaring.[10:27]
He acknowledges that enforcement is challenging but emphasizes that the government is pursuing it because it makes public health sense and saves lives.[10:35]
He adds that regulation also makes economic sense, creating potential revenue from non-compliant actors.[10:39]
He notes that reducing flaring also reduces energy waste in a country facing energy insecurity.[10:45]

Rice production, methane, and smallholder farmers

Importance of rice and its climate link

Sultan introduces rice, noting its popularity and prompting smiles from the audience.[10:53]
He calls rice a major global food crop consumed by billions, from Tokyo to his hometown of Conakry in Guinea.[10:59]
He notes that more rice production will be needed to meet food security demands.[11:09]
He explains that rice production is affected by climate change and partly contributes to it by emitting methane.[11:13]

How traditional rice farming creates methane

Sultan asks the audience to think about the millions of farmers who grow rice.[11:17]
He describes how farmers typically flood their fields.[11:21]
Flooding prevents oxygen from entering the soil and creates conditions for methane to form.[11:25]

Balancing food security and emissions reduction

He poses the challenge: how to improve rice productivity and production for food security while minimizing emissions.[11:31]

Alternate wetting and drying in Ghana

Sultan describes how 11,000 farmers around Accra in Ghana are working with their Environmental Protection Agency.[11:43]
They are attempting to use a method called alternate wetting and drying.[11:47]
He explains this method allows farmers, when conditions are suitable and applicable, to naturally drain water from their fields.[11:53]
By doing so, they manage an extremely scarce resource: water.[11:55]
They also manage production and productivity while limiting methane emissions.[12:03]
Sultan says this approach benefits producers, consumers, and food security.[12:09]
He argues that resilient and sustainable production systems that also reward smallholder farmers will be necessary.[12:13]

Need for ongoing multidisciplinary innovation in food systems

Sultan insists that efforts cannot stop with current pilots.[12:16]
He calls for multidisciplinary spaces to generate more solutions, especially those that are cost-effective and less risky for farmers.[12:25]
He emphasizes that farmers are central to the systemic change desired in food systems.[12:30]

Linking specific projects to the broader climate-development-methane nexus

Projects as windows into systemic possibilities

Sultan explains that the projects he described illustrate the nexus between climate, development, and methane.[12:38]
He cautions that these initiatives are not a panacea and still need scale and improvement.[12:45]
He argues that these efforts show progress that builds momentum because people can see tangible benefits.[12:48]
He says this momentum will be needed to achieve a high-development, low-methane future.[12:59]

Governance, finance, and global collaboration for methane action

Need for systemic improvements and African agency

Sultan says that reaching a high-development, low-methane future will require systemic improvements.[13:01]
He notes that African nations have been working on measures that require more support, particularly in raising domestic resources and capital.[13:11]
Such capital is needed to self-fund climate and development in a way that increases agency and decision-making on the continent.[13:16]
He mentions efforts like bringing together African financial institutions around the Africa (the rest of the phrase is truncated in the transcript).[13:20]
He also refers to addressing the high cost of capital and sovereign debt burdens Africa faces.[13:29]
He argues that unlocking capital is integral to moving methane action forward.[13:33]

Underreporting, governance, and accountability

Sultan notes that methane emissions are rising globally and much of them are underreported.[13:38]
He concludes there is no way around the centrality of governance and accountability.[13:45]
He says more governance and accountability are needed first at home, to better manage domestic affairs.[13:50]
He also calls for governance and accountability globally to understand where emissions originate and how to tackle them equitably.[13:56]
He emphasizes that equitable approaches are necessary for greater collective impact.[13:58]

Collaboration and capacity in a multipolar world

Sultan observes that in a distributed, multipolar world, more collaboration will likely be needed, not less.[14:06]
He advocates creatively leveraging domestic capacity across geographies and disciplines.[14:14]
Goals include supporting scientific research and breakthroughs, improving data measurement capacity globally, and developing more effective financing options.[14:20]
He expresses confidence that Africa will rise to the challenge of methane reduction and climate resilience.[14:29]
• He argues this is in Africa's self-interest to move from vulnerability to resilience and is also a necessary contribution to the world.

Reframing low methane as a co-benefit of better development

Flipping the script on co-benefits

Sultan notes that much discussion focuses on co-benefits of methane mitigation.[14:40]
He suggests flipping the script: when societies build systems that reward safer, cleaner, livable cities and resilient, nutritious food systems, low methane becomes a co-benefit.[14:52]
He adds that diversified and productive energy systems are also part of such a better developmental pathway.[14:54]
He argues that low methane is a co-benefit of this improved development model.[15:00]
He concludes that this approach is good for the planet and fundamentally good for people.[15:06]
He ends his talk by expressing hope that the audience can support this vision and thanks them.[15:06]

Host outro and production credits

Context of the talk

Elise Hu identifies the speaker as Mohamed A. Sultan.[15:12]
She notes that the talk was delivered at the TED Countdown Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2025.[15:21]

TED curation and production details

She invites listeners curious about TED's curation to visit TED.com slash curationguidelines.[15:29]
She explains that TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective.[15:34]
She notes that the talk was fact-checked by the TED Research Team.[15:36]
She credits producers and editors Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Green, Lucy Little, and Tansika Sangmarnivong.[15:44]
She states that the episode was mixed by Christopher Faisy-Bogan, with additional support from Emma Taubner and Daniela Balarezo.[15:48]
Elise Hu signs off, promising to return with a fresh idea and thanking listeners for listening.[15:54]

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Targeting short-lived climate pollutants like methane can deliver significant near-term reductions in climate vulnerability while longer-term decarbonization efforts unfold.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in your work or community could focusing on short-term, high-impact changes reduce risk while longer projects are still in progress?
  • • How might prioritizing "quick win" interventions alongside long-term strategies change your approach to complex problems you are facing now?
  • • What is one concrete, high-leverage change you could champion in the next year that meaningfully improves resilience in your environment?
2

Designing development projects to produce multiple co-benefits-such as health, jobs, cost savings, and emissions reduction-makes them more compelling and sustainable.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What current initiative in your life or organization could be redesigned to create additional benefits for different stakeholders?
  • • How could explicitly mapping health, economic, and environmental co-benefits strengthen the case for a project you're involved with?
  • • What is one project you could improve this month by intentionally adding at least one more positive outcome for people affected by it?
3

Community-driven, locally tailored solutions can effectively tackle global challenges like climate change when supported by sound policy, financing, and governance.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where have you seen local knowledge or community effort outperform top-down approaches in solving a problem?
  • • How could you better align your own projects with the strengths and priorities of the communities they affect?
  • • What is one step you could take in the next quarter to bring local voices more directly into decisions you influence?
4

Strong regulatory frameworks and enforcement are often necessary to convert technical capability and corporate resources into real-world environmental improvements.

Reflection Questions:

  • • In your field, where are you relying too heavily on voluntary commitments instead of clear rules and accountability?
  • • How might introducing or supporting well-designed standards change the behavior of key actors you depend on?
  • • What is one area where you could advocate for clearer policies or enforcement mechanisms to reduce harm or waste?
5

Aligning finance, governance, and data with climate and development goals increases a region's agency to pursue solutions that match its own needs and priorities.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where do funding constraints or debt burdens limit your or your organization's ability to choose the best long-term options?
  • • How could better information and measurement improve the decisions you make about risk, investment, or impact?
  • • What specific partnership or financial tool could you explore this year to gain more flexibility and control over your strategic choices?
6

Reframing environmental outcomes as natural byproducts of building healthier, more livable systems can help people rally around development pathways that are both human-centered and low-emission.

Reflection Questions:

  • • How are you currently framing sustainability or social impact goals when you talk to others, and does that framing resonate with what they value?
  • • In what ways could you present desired environmental outcomes as side effects of creating better lives, services, or infrastructure?
  • • What is one narrative you could adjust this week to better connect long-term planetary benefits with immediate, tangible gains for people?

Episode Summary - Notes by Jordan

How to pull the emergency brake on global warming | Mohamed A. Sultan
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