Date & Time: November 11, 5:00–5:30 PM BRT
Location: Press Conference 2, Area D, Hangar Convention and Fair Centre of the Amazon, Belém
At the “COP of Implementation”, countries need to finance and deliver on climate commitments in a way that works for people. Zero waste systems – prevention, reuse, source separation, composting, and recycling – are a cheap, fast way to cut methane emissions and create good jobs. Yet they struggle to attract finance in a system that favours capital-intensive, profit-driven infrastructure, such as waste-to-energy incinerators.
This press conference will outline the expectations and opportunities for COP30 to reduce methane emissions from the waste sector. Speakers will showcase proven zero waste strategies from Accra, Buenos Aires, and Quezon City, and identify financial levers to scale up these models.
Moderator: Kabir Arora, International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAWP)
Speakers:
Eduardo Rocha Dias Santos – Director of Waste Management in the Ministry of Environmental and Climate Change – Brazil – Importance of methane cuts and expectations for COP30
Mariel Vilella, Director, Global Climate Program, GAIA – Financial levers to get money flowing to people delivering on the ground
Soledad Mella, National Association of Waste Pickers of Chile (ANARCH) – How waste pickers in Chile are organising to scale up zero waste strategies
Desmond Alugnoa, Co-founder, Green Africa Youth Organization, Earthshot Prize Winner – What Accra is doing to cut methane emissions from waste and how COP30 can support community-led initiatives
Key messages:
Mariel Vilella, GAIA: “Our research shows community-based zero waste systems can cut up to 95% of methane emissions from solid waste. Leaders at COP30 need to get money flowing to the people who can make it happen. That means rejecting false solutions like incineration, providing grants, making polluters pay, and reinvesting the savings from avoided landfill and incineration costs.”
Soledad Mella, ANARCH: “Waste pickers are a pillar of sustainable cities. They prevent tonnes of waste from ending up in landfills and transform waste into resources. Even so, their work is precarious, informal and often ignored by public policies. Governments must legally recognize waste pickers as providers of an essential environmental service, guarantee their social security, and improve recycling infrastructure.”
Desmond Alugnoa, GAYO: “Youth, waste pickers, and cooperatives are already delivering results. If we want COP30 to be remembered as the COP of Implementation, then we must invest in the people, listen to science, and fund fast action and solutions.”
