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

United Nations 1 year 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 12 hours ago



Sustainable construction is moving from policy commitments to measurable delivery, with heat, public assets and skills now defining progress on decarbonising the built environment. Coventry’s planned £1.3m solar thermal farm, designed with nearly 2,000 collectors to serve a manufacturing research centre, highlights the growing importance of low carbon design beyond electricity generation. By targeting heat demand, the scheme addresses a critical barrier to net zero carbon buildings and strengthens the case for whole life carbon assessment across industrial and institutional estates.

Surrey’s new carbon-neutral fire station shows how civic projects can advance sustainable building design through operational efficiency, resilience and staff wellbeing. Public-sector clients are increasingly expected to consider whole life carbon, embodied carbon, lifecycle assessment and life cycle cost rather than headline energy performance alone. Stronger sustainable material specification, low embodied carbon materials and environmental product declarations (EPDs) will be central to proving that carbon neutral construction can deliver both lower emissions and long-term value.

The sector’s wider challenge is capacity. Scotland’s warning that major investment in construction skills is needed to deliver more than £100bn of energy and infrastructure projects has UK-wide relevance. Net zero carbon delivery depends on electricians, retrofit specialists, heat-network engineers and project managers who understand environmental sustainability in construction, circular economy in construction and building lifecycle performance.

The immediate agenda for green construction is clear: decarbonise heat, reduce the carbon footprint of construction, improve embodied carbon in materials, embed circular construction strategies and support end-of-life reuse in construction. Standards such as BREEAM and BREEAM V7 will place growing pressure on clients and design teams to demonstrate net zero whole life carbon, resource efficiency in construction and credible sustainable building practices. Sustainable construction is no longer a design aspiration; it is a delivery test for finance, procurement, materials and workforce planning.

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