COP29 to adopt declaration on reducing methane emissions from organic waste

At the COP29 climate conference on November 19, a Declaration on Reducing Methane Emissions in the Organic Waste Sector will be adopted, as confirmed by Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister and the chief negotiator of the conference, during a press briefing.

Rafiyev, discussed the country's commitment to preventing methane emissions, emphasising its role in advancing climate resilience, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

He explained the importance of addressing methane as part of broader climate actions pointing out that previous climate summits had yielded notable progress in this area.

"We are making every effort to leverage opportunities to prevent methane emissions, which contribute significantly to climate change," Rafiyev said. As part of the initiative to curb methane emissions, 160 countries, including Azerbaijan, have now joined the effort.

To fulfil this commitment, Rafiyev stressed the need for detailed analysis of all sources contributing to methane emissions. He also highlighted the involvement of 50 companies, including Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, in the decarbonisation initiative for the oil and gas sector. Furthermore, he revealed that in 2022, food waste accounted for 110% of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, an alarming statistic that underscores the need for urgent action.

More than 30 countries have already signed a declaration to limit methane emissions, some of which are among the top ten nations for waste management. This declaration lays out a broader range of measures to be implemented in the current year to reduce methane emissions from organic waste.

Meanwhile, Inger Andersen, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), also spoke at the event titled "Reducing Methane Emissions from Organic Waste for Climate Action". She outlined five key areas that should be the focus of global efforts in tackling methane emissions.

The European Union (EU) has identified reducing methane emissions from organic waste as a top priority, a commitment underscored by the EU’s Special Representative for Climate and Environment, Toni Agotha, during the event.

Agota pointed to the EU's waste legislation, which has contributed to a 44% reduction in methane emissions from the waste sector between 1990 and 2022. He believes this progress highlights the significant potential for further improvement in this area. 

"The EU prioritises waste prevention, followed by preparation for reuse, recycling, and other forms of recovery, with disposal as a last resort. This is the foundation of our circular economy," Agota explained.

He further emphasised the economic opportunities presented by the separate collection of organic waste, noting that "we can assess it as biogas. The waste generated during biogas production can be used as fertiliser, helping to reduce the reliance on fossil-based chemicals."

By Aghakazim Guliyev