Civil society calls COP29 to deliver climate finance for waste methane leaving no one behind

In the run-up to COP29, members of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) are calling international delegates to channel greater funds toward urgently needed climate action for reducing waste methane emissions in alignment with environmental justice principles and leaving no one behind.

Solutions are at the ready: waste methane emissions can be cut by as much as 95% by 2030 through low cost, scalable and easy to implement measures focused on waste prevention and the separation and treatment of organic waste.

Moreover, measures grounded on the Environmental Justice Principles for fast action on waste and methane ensure the inclusion of waste pickers, takes the lead and builds capacity at the local level, moves away from waste disposal technologies, and commits to systemic change beyond GHG emission reduction.

Today, GAIA is launching its NDC Checklist: Guidance on integrating waste and methane reduction into the NDCs 3.0 in alignment with Environmental Justice Principle  to support national delegates in utilizing climate solutions in the waste sector grounded on environmental justice principles.

“The opportunity to deliver climate action is huge but it needs climate finance to increase, shift, and be accessible to existing successful community-led projects that lead to the greatest economic, social, and environmental impacts,” said Mariel Vilella, GAIA Climate Program Director.

“As governments update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), it is critical to integrate the waste sector and prioritize waste methane solutions aligned with environmental justice principles, ensuring a just transition for impacted communities of wastepickers”, she added.

The 37 GAIA@COP29 Delegation of climate experts and zero waste implementers from across the globe will be sharing their stories and lived experience of successful community-led zero waste initiatives.  They are calling for a community-centered climate finance and waste pickers integration that ensures no one is left behind.  Specifically, the call for:

• Commitment to substantial, transparent, and quality funding for urgent climate action in the Global South under the NCQG,
• Increased climate finance in the waste sector and shift from harmful to impactful, supporting upstream solutions, with justice and equity at its core,
• Integration of the waste sector in NDCs 3.0, driving support for waste methane solutions and ensuring a just transition for impacted communities,
• Recognition of municipal solid waste management as an essential public service and funding it accordingly, scaling-up and replicating successful community-led zero waste initiatives, and
• Support for a just transition in food systems to prevent food loss and waste.