COP28 Side Event: Accelerating integration of low-carbon waste management in Nationally Determined Contributions to Reach Climate Commitments

3 December 2023
16:00–16:45 p.m.
Finland Pavilion
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
webcast recording

Environmentally sound management of waste, and its responsible trade, is essential in mitigating climate change and promoting a circular economy. The waste management sector can play a vital role in climate mitigation through a multitude of actions. First, through direct greenhouse gas emissions reductions from solid waste management and, second, indirectly through the effects of waste prevention, re-use, recycling, and replacement of fossil fuels and feedstock by secondary raw materials. Waste recycling and resource recovery - which are at the core of a circular economy - offer potential GHG reductions in the magnitude of up to 20% of the global emissions.

By bringing together experts from different horizons, the side event will foster the sharing of experiences and solutions to support countries to consider integrating waste management policies and circular economy interventions in their nationally determined contributions (NDC).  

Programme

Moderator:

  • Ms. Kerstin Stendahl, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland

Panelists:

  • Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)
  • Daniel Tutu Benefoh, Climate Change Unit Director, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana
  • Peter Simões, Chair, Working Group on Climate Change, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA)
  • Jorge Laguna Celis, Director, One Planet Network, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Resources

Building Circularity into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – A Practical Toolbox co-developed by UNDP, UNEP/One Planet Network Secretariat, and UNFCCC secretariat .

    

 

Photo gallery

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