Barriers to Low-Carbon Transition: An Empirical Assessment of GHG Emissions and Mitigation Readiness in the Matsapha Industrial Area, Eswatini

Climate change mitigation in the manufacturing sector is crucial for reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Eswatini, the industrial sector is the largest contributor to the national GHG inventory. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the mitigation readiness of this sector through a unique multi-stakeholder approach, using the Matsapha Industrial Area as a case study. Through an extensive survey, between November 2024 and January 2025, of industry managers, achieving an exceptionally high response rate of 91% (n = 21), employees (n = 63), local residents (n = 385), and a key ministry, the study evaluated emission sources, mitigation measures, stakeholder awareness, and the policy framework. The findings reveal a critical awareness-action gap: while basic awareness of climate change is high, a significant limitation was identified where nearly half (48%) of the surveyed industries could not provide quantifiable annual energy use data, and strategic mitigation is limited to cost-saving efficiency measures. Critically, the study confirms a policy vacuum, with no regulations mandating GHG monitoring or mitigation for manufacturing. This governance gap is the primary barrier to decarbonization. The results underscore an urgent need for a sector-specific industrial climate policy with a mandatory Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework, coupled with targeted capacity-building initiatives to translate awareness into accountable climate action.