Unlocking The Potential For Scaling Up Financing Of Methane Mitigation From Solid Waste

Despite growing appreciation that methane contributed more than 0.5 degrees C to (net) global temperature increase of 1.1 degrees C in 2019 (IPCC 2021), and that reducing methane emissions can constrain global temperature rise, funds committed to abating methane are small relative to those spent abating carbon dioxide (CO»). Methane emissions from waste will increase in the absence of urgent action as waste generation increases. The challenge related to municipal-type wastes is not just one of infrastructure and capital investment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that around 2.7 billion people on the planet still lack any formal waste collection (UNEP 2024). Incentivising methane abatement and enhancing waste management are vital tasks, and both waste collection, and its management, have to improve. We recommend that the G20: e Defines ways of using market mechanisms to valorise, incentivise and fund methane abatement from waste, supporting a resetting of finance in line with TF- CLIMA’s priorities; e Consistent with the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group’s priorities, ensures that International Environmental and Climate Funds (IECFs) are designed to support ‘high in the waste hierarchy’ approaches. This will require improvement in collection services, helping to support livelihoods in line with the Presidency’s proposed Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, as well as capacity building in many countries. Together, these changes can contribute significant methane abatement from municipal, and other sources of waste, such as agriculture, and food processing in a manner consistent with a just transition.