12 March 2013: The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) convened a meeting in Vancouver, Canada, to consider ways to reduce short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) emissions like black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), from solid waste. Cities agreed to work with the CCAC over the next year on activities such as: closing open dump sites; using organic waste to produce energy and compost; and harnessing methane from landfills.

According to the CCAC, the meeting followed comprehensive on-the-ground assessments undertaken in cooperation with the CCAC’s Municipal Solid Waste initiative, a partnership involving countries, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations. CCAC indicated that decomposing waste in landfills is a significant source of methane, while open burning of waste can cause black carbon emissions.

CCAC indicated that participating cities will receive technical assistance, as well as funding to share experience and exchange experts. The CCAC further noted that the initiative will also lay the foundations for new projects in partnership with the World Bank.

Cities participating in the initiative include: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Cali, Colombia; Viña del Mar, Chile; New York City, US; Stockholm, Sweden; Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Penang, Malaysia; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam; and Tokyo, Japan. According to the CCAC, it plans to extend this international network of cities, and will be inviting expressions of interests in the coming months. [CCAC Press Release] [CCAC Website]