Global greenhouse gas emission estimates often neglect the intricate service chain in rapidly developing cities of low- and middle-income countries. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of emissions from all stages of Kampala, Uganda's sanitation system. High emissions stem from prolonged faecal waste storage (49%), direct discharge into drains (4%), illegal dumping (2%), sewer leakage (6%), wastewater bypassing treatment (7%), and uncollected methane from treatment plants (31%). Kampala's sanitation generates 189 kt CO2e annually, potentially exceeding half of the city's total emissions. The study highlights the need for refined global sanitation emission estimates.

Jake Johnson, Fiona Zakaria, Allan G. Nkurunziza, Celia Way, Miller A. Camargo-Valero, Barbara Evans