COP29 begins in Baku, Azerbaijan, after the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) called on member states to integrate sustainable waste strategies.
Through its COP29 Declaration, ISWA called on member states to integrate sustainable waste strategies into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – commitments made by countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
ISWA said waste management and circular economy principles can be central to addressing the climate crisis.
One of ISWA’s primary messages for COP29 is the potential for sustainable waste management to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
ISWA said a circular economy in the waste and resource management sector depends on making secondary raw materials competitive through effective product standards and pricing them at or below primary raw materials.
Additionally, ISWA is also highlighting the role of organic waste management in curbing methane emissions.
ISWA is also advocating for a global waste management strategy aligned with the circular scenario outlined in the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 (GWMO).
The latest GWMO projects a 77% increase in global waste production by 2050 if current practices remain unchanged.
ISWA said this underscores the need for a transition from open dumpsites to sanitary landfills and enhanced recycling initiatives.
ISWA at COP29
At COP29, ISWA, along with its partners, is hosting the Waste & Resources Pavilion in the Green Zone from 11 to 22 November.
ISWA said it will emphasise the need for an international waste management framework that includes ambitious global goals for waste collection and sustainable disposal at COP29.
