By Mariel Vilella, GAIA Climate Program Director
This week, Addis Ababa is hosting the Second Climate Week, a critical moment for shaping climate commitments ahead of COP30. For the first time, the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme has dedicated its Sixth Global Dialogue and Investment Event to waste and the circular economy, bringing together governments, city networks, development banks, NGOs, and local organisations to discuss actionable solutions.
We are particularly pleased that Neil Tangri, GAIA’s Science and Policy Director, and Eskedar Awgichew, Executive Director at Eco-Justice Ethiopia are participating on the ground, helping to advance discussions that will influence urban mitigation policies and funding priorities around the world.
For too long, the waste sector has been overlooked in climate action, despite offering some of the most immediate and cost-effective opportunities to reduce emissions. Methane from organic waste, largely sent to dumpsites and landfills, is one of the largest and fastest-reducing sources of greenhouse gases available today. Scaling up zero waste strategies, composting, recycling, and circular economy models could deliver rapid climate benefits, while supporting communities and protecting livelihoods.
A major conversation this week is around the role of incineration versus zero waste approaches. Evidence from cities in the Global South shows that incinerators often fail to meet expectations. A striking example is Addis Ababa’s Reppie waste-to-energy facility, which was promoted as a groundbreaking solution. The plant was designed to handle 1,400 tons of waste per day but currently processes only 400–700 tons. It produces just half of the electricity promised, requires extra fuel because most of the waste is organic, displaces local waste workers, generates 85 tons of toxic ash daily, and costs $6.2 million to operate each year. This experience is a cautionary tale: investments in incineration can undermine climate goals and social equity.
By contrast, zero waste solutions—composting, recycling, and decentralized systems—are scalable, cost-effective, and inclusive. They reduce emissions, protect communities, and align with the principles of a just transition, ensuring that waste workers and informal recyclers are recognized and supported rather than displaced. Climate action in the waste sector must be inclusive, equitable, and rooted in social and environmental justice.
Another critical dimension is financing. Many local governments and community-based organizations lack access to the resources they need to implement sustainable waste solutions. Climate finance must be direct, inclusive, and designed to support operational costs and long-term sustainability, not just capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Strengthening technical capacity and building local expertise are equally important to ensure that zero waste initiatives succeed and scale effectively.
Innovation also matters. The tools and technologies to mitigate waste methane already exist. The challenge is to implement them in ways that are context-appropriate, accessible, and community-centered, so that both people and the planet benefit. Scaling up circular economy models offers an opportunity for transformative change that goes beyond emissions reductions, building more resilient, equitable cities.
The takeaway is clear: the waste sector offers immediate, cost-effective, and socially just climate solutions. Prioritizing zero waste strategies can achieve rapid methane reductions, support a just transition for workers, and accelerate progress toward COP30 goals. Incineration, in contrast, diverts resources, harms communities, and threatens both climate and justice outcomes.
As delegates gather in Addis Ababa this week, the message is simple: invest in zero waste, not incineration—because the future of climate action and social equity depends on it.
