Brazil to develop national plan to address super emitters in the waste sector and curb methane emissions with support from CATF and Carbon Mapper
Belém, Brazil – At COP30 today, the Government of Brazil announced the launch of a process to develop a first-of-its-kind initiative to detect and mitigate methane emissions from the country’s waste sector using cutting-edge satellite and remote sensing technologies.
The process will be developed by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Clean Air Task Force (CATF) and Carbon Mapper, as well as local governments and stakeholders, marking a major step forward in Brazil’s efforts to reduce methane pollution and strengthen its commitment under the Global Methane Pledge.
“Remote sensing has changed our understanding of emissions around the world; but having this data is just the first step. We must get the data to the operators and the local governments to ensure that data leads to action, and this new effort will help drive the kind of change that is so desperately needed,” said Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary of Urban Environment, Water Resources and Environmental Quality, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil.
This initiative will harness the growing amount of third-party remote sensing data from global providers to detect high-emitting final disposal sites, which can be found all over the world and emit over 6.1 million tons of methane per year. The data will be put into the hands of operators and local governments who are best positioned to take action.
CATF will support the Ministry in developing the framework for the initiative, strengthening the capacity of Ministry staff to work with the new satellite information and to work with local governments and stakeholders to develop a process that can lead to reductions in the sector. Carbon Mapper will provide science-based insights and expertise to inform the initiative’s development development and leverage satellite data to help identify mitigation actions where they will have the greatest impact.
“Brazil is a global champion for methane mitigation and a key methane partner in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Jonathan Banks, Global Director, Methane Mitigation and Prevention at Clean Air Task Force. “This new landfill initiative will take that leadership a step further by clearly demonstrating how emerging technology, data transparency, and policy innovation can combine to reduce emissions in the waste sector. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Environment and Carbon Mapper to ensure its success.”
“Addressing super-emitting waste sites is a key lever to advancing country-wide emissions reduction goals,” said Mackenzie Huffman, Director of Strategy and Impact at Carbon Mapper. “Carbon Mapper is pleased to partner with the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Clean Air Task Force to advance programs that use satellite methane emissions data to inform mitigation strategies, accelerate methane action, and deliver meaningful change in how waste emissions are managed.”
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for roughly one-third of global warming to date. Methane mitigation is one of the most effective strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change in the near term. The waste sector alone contributes about 20% of global anthropogenic methane emissions and 16% in Brazil, making it a critical lever for methane mitigation efforts.
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
