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

United Nations 9 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).
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 11 hours ago



The construction sector is entering a period of measured transformation, defined by the integration of environmental sustainability in construction policy, digital innovation, and financial accountability. The London Plan continues to set a demanding benchmark, driving developers to embed sustainable building design and Whole Life Carbon Assessment from project inception. Compliance now requires an understanding of Whole Life Carbon, Life Cycle Costing, and the carbon footprint of construction to meet tightening targets while safeguarding profitability. This shift demonstrates that sustainable construction is no longer aspirational but an operational necessity.

Corporate leaders are calling for consistent frameworks that enable reliable investment in low carbon design, renewable building materials, and Circular Economy in construction strategies. Businesses emphasise that uncertainty impedes progress toward net zero Whole Life Carbon goals. Stable regulation would strengthen confidence in green construction and support a transition toward carbon neutral construction portfolios. By aligning policy and capital, developers can achieve meaningful reductions in embodied carbon in materials across the building lifecycle performance.

Emerging technology continues to enrich sustainable building practices. Research into nanobubble applications for contaminated water treatment illustrates how eco-design for buildings and resource efficiency in construction intersect with environmental restoration. Artificial intelligence tools now perform lifecycle assessment modelling that quantifies the environmental impact of construction before physical work begins. These approaches enhance life cycle thinking in construction and underpin next-generation strategies for low carbon building and energy-efficient buildings.

The evolution of sustainable design is mirrored in evolving assessment systems such as BREEAM and the forthcoming BREEAM v7, which incorporate Whole Life Carbon metrics and end-of-life reuse in construction into certification frameworks. These systems reinforce the move toward circular construction strategies and broader circular economy principles across the built environment. Net zero carbon buildings are becoming the standard for sustainable urban development, with emphasis on low embodied carbon materials and verifiable environmental product declarations (EPDs).

The sector is beginning to view decarbonising the built environment not as an ethical gesture but as a structural shift in economic logic. The alignment of policy, finance, and technology signals that the path to net zero carbon depends on rigorous lifecycle assessment, sustainable material specification, and continuous innovation. Sustainable architecture has become the measure of competitiveness. What once appeared an environmental ideal now defines the future of construction itself.

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