When left unmanaged, organic waste releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that traps 82.5 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Uncontrolled, it degrades the environment, poses serious public health risks, and accelerates climate change.
Cities Can Combat Climate Change
Managing organic waste is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways for cities to fight climate change. By reducing methane emissions from organic waste by 70%, cities can play a pivotal role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
The Cities Methane Pledge
We stand at a critical juncture. Recent years have tested communities globally, leaving them more vulnerable to climate change. The escalating pace of production and consumption has intensified greenhouse gas emissions, warming the planet and amplifying extreme weather events that threaten ecosystems, economies, and human life.
Cities, local governments, and countries committed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) goals from COP21, including limiting global warming to 1.5°C, recognize the urgent need for a swift and equitable transition. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 45% by 2030 to meet this target.
Methane, the second-largest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, contributes nearly 30% of global emissions and is 82.5 times more heat-trapping than carbon dioxide over 20 years. Research shows that cutting human-caused methane emissions by 45% within this decade could prevent nearly 0.3°C of warming by 2045. Through Zero Waste initiatives, cities can achieve up to a 95% reduction in methane emissions from solid waste by 2030.
In regions where municipal solid waste generates 20% of human-made methane emissions, organic waste comprises 50-80% of the total. This offers cities a dual opportunity to tackle domestic waste while significantly lowering methane emissions. By implementing proper waste management practices, cities can lead the charge against climate change.
A Call to Action: Join the Methane Pledge
Join the global climate action movement by committing your city to:
- Prioritize waste reduction, particularly food waste, throughout the supply chain.
- Design and enforce waste segregation systems targeting 70% safe and effective recovery of organics by 2030, focusing on decentralized management.
- Support infrastructure, institutions, and funding mechanisms for optimal organic waste recovery through anaerobic digestion or composting.
- Partner with farmers, businesses, community organizations, NGOs, educational institutions, and R&D bodies to foster knowledge-sharing and develop value-added waste recovery solutions.
- Integrate waste pickers and workers into waste management for a fair, just transition.
- Learn and use methane quantification tools to measure emissions in your city.
- Encourage other local governments to join the Methane Pledge.
Take action now to protect our environment, support vulnerable communities, and create green jobs. Together, we can turn the tide on climate change—one city at a time.
Resources
The First Regional Congress on Organics and Climate
Held from September 25-28, 2024 in Bengaluru, India, the First Regional Congress on Organics and Climate convened zero waste practitioners from governments and civil society across Asia-Pacific to develop a joint strategy for reducing food waste and improving organic waste recovery. Key discussions covered the links between organics, methane, and climate change, policies and just transition principles, and innovative technologies. The event also featured an exhibition of successful waste management models, a trade fair for technology vendors, and a study tour of organic waste initiatives in Bengaluru and Mysuru for city officials and delegates.
The Zero Waste Academy
The Zero Waste Academy (ZWA), developed by GAIA Asia Pacific and Mother Earth Foundation in the Philippines, is an accessible online learning platform offering targeted courses to empower community leaders, government officials, and individuals in implementing Zero Waste initiatives. With practical, hands-on strategies, ZWA equips participants to drive sustainable waste management in their cities, fostering cleaner communities and advancing public health. By joining, officials gain the knowledge and tools needed to lead impactful waste reduction efforts, making lasting contributions to environmental sustainability and community well-being.
