Regional Cooperation Programme: Reducing methane emissions from organic waste and closing dumpsites in Latin America and the Caribbean

United Nations 6 months ago

In response to the mandate of the Special Session of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Rio de Janeiro, 2024), this Regional Cooperation Programme aims to urgently and significantly reduce methane emissions from the waste sector and advance the progressive closure of dumpsites in the region. This is a regional challenge that requires concerted action: currently, 45% of municipal waste is not adequately managed, and more than 10,000 active dumpsites release uncontrolled methane emissions, posing risks to human health and the environment. Although organic waste accounts for 50% of total waste, less than 3% is recovered. The Programme sets forth a shared vision: By 2040, Latin American and Caribbean countries will have significantly reduced methane emissions from the waste sector, prevented the disposal of organic waste in landfills, and closed dumpsites. To achieve this, the Programme promotes integrated solutions across the entire waste management chain, with a menu of interventions from prevention (upstream), to deviation and valorization (midstream) and the improvement of final disposal infrastructure (downstream). Three priority areas of intervention have been defined: 1) Strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement; 2) Enhancing institutional and operational capacities, including MRV systems; 3) Mobilizing finance for waste methane mitigation and dumpsite closure. The Programme fosters cooperation activities focused on knowledge exchange, promotion of good practices, joint initiatives, and shared access to technical assistance and financial resources. It also includes an implementation strategy to support its adoption at national and subnational levels. This document has been prepared within the framework of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, through the Voluntary Coalition of Governments and Relevant Organizations for the Progressive Closure of Dumpsites in Latin America and the Caribbean. The development of the Programme was facilitated by the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office, with the technical support of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 7 hours ago



The European construction sector faces a turning point shaped by tighter carbon accountability and accelerating clean‑energy economics. European policymakers are strengthening carbon market mechanisms to sharpen the price signal for high‑emission materials such as cement and steel. For developers and designers committed to sustainable construction, this shift reinforces the urgency of addressing embodied carbon through transparent environmental product declarations (EPDs), sustainable material specification, and low embodied carbon materials. The focus is moving from compliance to proactive whole life carbon assessment as project teams seek to reduce the overall carbon footprint of construction.

Rapid decarbonisation of electricity grids is improving the economics of all‑electric, energy‑efficient buildings. With clean power generation surpassing half of the UK’s energy supply, as shown when wind and solar power delivered a record share of UK electricity, electrified heating and cooling now align with both whole life carbon and life cycle cost advantages. The drive for net zero carbon buildings and low carbon building strategies is transforming sustainable building design from an optional improvement into a baseline expectation.

Across the UK, the identification of millions of homes in energy crisis hotspots is opening a vast retrofit pipeline. The market demand for fabric‑first upgrades, resource efficiency in construction, and large‑scale delivery programmes is intensifying. This expansion is encouraging the integration of lifecycle assessment, life cycle thinking in construction, and the circular economy in construction practices to ensure lasting environmental sustainability in construction.

Global clean‑energy investment trends reveal growing policy risk where renewables are displaced by fossil fuel infrastructure. The volatility underlines the importance of circular construction strategies and the transition toward decarbonising the built environment. Stakeholders are preparing for stricter embodied carbon disclosure, low carbon design standards and net zero whole life carbon targets that will define green construction and eco‑friendly construction markets through the next decade.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?