“The IEA has set out what it takes to meet the Presidency’s waste target: to halve the projected growth in municipal waste by 2035. Whether we can achieve that target depends on the involvement of states and regions.
“They’re the governments that regulate landfills, set the rules for organic waste, and shape how cities run collection. The IEA report calls for capturing gas at landfills and collecting food waste separately. Members of the Subnational Methane Action Coalition are already doing both, using satellite data to spot emissions at landfills in real time and sharing policy learnings with peers.
“That work matters for people’s daily lives. It means cleaner air for people living near dumps, more local green jobs, and fuel made from waste that would otherwise rot and produce methane emissions. National governments can scale that impact fast by working with states and regions when developing their climate plans and giving them the financial resources to act decisively.”
“The opportunity is huge, and work on methane often pays for itself over time. The tools exist, and states and regions are ready, but our window is closing fast. Let’s enable them to work.”
For additional commentary or interview requests, please contact Vanessa Power, vpower@climategroup.org (Antalya) and Tom Nice, tnice@climategroup.org (London).