ASSESSING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES: A CASE OF MATSAPHA INDUSTRIAL AREA, ESWATINI

Abstract

Climate change mitigation in the manufacturing sector is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promoting sustainable industrial practices. In Eswatini, the industrial sector contributes the largest in GHG emissions countrywide. Therefore, this study assesses the extent of GHG emissions from manufacturing industries in the Matsapha Industrial Area, Eswatini, and evaluates their mitigation measures. Additionally, it explores the level of climate change awareness among industry stakeholders, employees, and local residents while identifying existing policies governing the sector. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. The findings indicate limited knowledge of climate change across stakeholders, a lack of formal policies regulating industrial emissions, and minimal employee training on climate-related issues. Furthermore, most industries are aware of climate change but do not consistently track their GHG emissions, and there is no awareness of carbon market mechanisms. These results highlight the need for comprehensive climate policies, increased stakeholder education, and structured emission monitoring frameworks to enhance climate change mitigation in the manufacturing sector.