Community of Practice on reduction of methane emissions from organic sources in Latin America and the Caribbean (MetLAC)

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential 86 times greater than carbon dioxide over a period of 20 years. According to the Global Assessment of Methane (2021), the reduction of methane emissions caused by human activities is one of the strategies more cost - effective to reduce rapidly the heating rate and contribute substantially to global efforts to meet the goal of warming below 1.5°C.

In addition, the methane is among the pollutants climate of short life more dangerous (SLCP, for its acronym in English) and is responsible for 40 percent of global warming since the Industrial Revolution - 18% of the methane emissions of human origin, from organic waste.

The waste generation per capita will continue to increase throughout the world with the population growth and rapid urbanization. As the organic fraction of the waste – such as food scraps, pruning, paper, or wood – decomposes in landfills or dumps, generates large amounts of emissions that affect air quality and contribute significantly to the warming of our planet.

According to the United Nations Program for Environment (UNEP), the organic residues represent, on average, 50% of the waste stream in the countries of Latin America. The lack of specific treatment options and recovery measures generates serious problems in the sites of disposal, including significant emissions of methane and leachate that contaminates the soil and the spread of vector borne diseases.

In the region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), there are local and regional initiatives focused on recycling, anaerobic digestion, composting, and other relevant technologies to reduce methane emissions. However, these efforts are often scattered and are not linked to the national objectives of climate and development.