Atlas on Waste Management and Climate Change Mitigation: Focus on Integrating Waste Initiatives into NDCs – Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

The Role of Solid Waste Management in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Mitigation Potential and Alignment with SDG 13

An analysis of countries within the French Development Agency’s scope reveals the significant, yet underutilized, potential of solid waste management in achieving global climate objectives and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Effective waste management is a critical component for the successful implementation of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Direct Emissions: The waste sector is directly responsible for 3-5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily methane from landfills, which directly impacts targets under SDG 13.
• Indirect Mitigation Potential: The sector’s indirect mitigation potential is substantially higher, reaching up to 20% of global emissions. This is achieved through circular economy practices that align with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Mitigation Strategies: Key strategies include waste prevention, recycling, and energy recovery. Energy recovery from waste contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by providing an alternative energy source.

Current Challenges and Implications for Sustainable Development

Current global trends present significant challenges to sustainable development, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. Without immediate and substantial investment, progress towards several SDGs is at risk.

1. Projected Waste Increase: Global waste generation is projected to increase by over 70% by 2050 from 2016 levels, driven by population growth and economic development. This trend threatens to overwhelm municipal capacities, undermining SDG 11.6 (Reduce the environmental impact of cities).
2. Economic Correlation: The strong correlation between waste production and GDP per capita highlights the urgent need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, a core principle of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
3. Methane Emissions Surge: A failure to manage the growing volume of organic waste will lead to a dramatic increase in methane emissions, directly counteracting the goals of SDG 13.
4. Broader SDG Impacts: Inadequate waste management also jeopardizes SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through pollution and the spread of disease.

Policy Gaps in National Climate Strategies and SDG Integration

Despite its importance, the waste sector remains insufficiently integrated into national climate policies, indicating a disconnect between stated climate ambitions and actionable strategies for achieving the SDGs.

• Underrepresentation in NDCs: The waste sector’s role is not fully leveraged in many countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are the primary instruments for advancing SDG 13.
• Lack of Specificity: While a positive trend shows over half of revised NDCs now reference solid waste, most submissions lack specific actions, measurable targets, or indicators necessary for effective implementation and monitoring of progress towards SDG 11.6.
• Neglect of Waste Prevention: Waste prevention, the most effective strategy for mitigation and a cornerstone of SDG 12, is mentioned in only 34% of the NDCs reviewed. This represents a significant missed opportunity to integrate sustainable consumption and production patterns into national climate action plans.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article’s core focus is on solid waste management, a critical component of urban environmental management. It discusses the challenges of increasing waste generation driven by population growth and economic development, particularly in urbanizing regions of low- and middle-income countries. This directly relates to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article emphasizes “waste prevention” as the most impactful strategy and mentions recycling and reuse as key components of mitigating the environmental impact of waste. This aligns with the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by reducing waste generation.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This is a central theme of the article. It explicitly links solid waste management to achieving global climate objectives, highlighting that the waste sector is responsible for 3-5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has a significant indirect mitigation potential. The discussion revolves around including waste management in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to combat climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities

  By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article directly addresses this target by focusing on the need for significant investment in “solid waste management” systems to handle the projected 70% increase in global waste generation and mitigate the “dramatic surge in methane emissions” from poor landfilling practices.

• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation

  By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article identifies “waste prevention” as the “most impactful strategy” and notes that its mitigation potential is high when accounting for “avoided emissions through prevention, recycling, and energy recovery.” It also laments that waste prevention is only mentioned in 34% of the NDCs reviewed, indicating it is a key area for action.

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies

  Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The entire article is framed around this target, advocating for the inclusion of the waste sector in national climate strategies. It analyzes the extent to which countries reference solid waste in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), noting that while a positive trend is visible, most NDCs “do not specify actions, targets, or indicators.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Waste

  The article explicitly states that the waste sector is “directly responsible for only 3 to 5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions” and has an indirect mitigation potential of “up to 20%.” This provides a direct quantitative indicator for measuring the climate impact of waste management.

• Methane Emissions

  The text specifically warns of a “dramatic surge in methane emissions, mainly from unmanaged organic waste and poor landfilling practices.” Measuring methane emissions from the waste sector is therefore an implied key indicator of the effectiveness of waste management systems.

• Rate of Waste Generation

  The article projects that “global waste generation is expected to rise by over 70% since 2016” by 2050. Tracking the actual rate of waste generation, especially on a per capita basis, is a crucial indicator for Target 12.5 (waste reduction).

• Inclusion of Waste Sector in NDCs

  The article uses the inclusion of waste management in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as a key metric for policy integration. It notes that “more than half of the countries reference solid waste in their NDCs” and that “waste prevention… is mentioned in only 34% of the NDCs reviewed.” This serves as a policy-level indicator for Target 13.2.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ccacoalition.org