The third day of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), held on 11 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, brought waste management and methane reduction into focus. World leaders and climate stakeholders highlighted the need to accelerate practical solutions, strengthen international cooperation, and mobilize investment to address major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Discussions centered on Türkiye's Zero Waste initiative, the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge, circular refrigerant management, and innovative approaches to reducing emissions from organic waste.
Key Highlights from Day 3
World Leaders Spotlight Zero Waste and Circular Economy: Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for greater international support for the country's Zero Waste initiative, which aims to reduce waste, increase recycling, and promote a circular economy. Türkiye reported that its recycling rate had increased from 13% in 2017 to approximately 40% in 2025, with 90 million tonnes of waste recovered and returned to the economy. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged countries to support the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led financing mechanism designed to help vulnerable island communities adapt to climate change and rising sea levels. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also called on governments to maintain international cooperation despite political divisions and reaffirm their climate commitments.
Global Methane Pledge Calls for Faster Implementation and Greater Investment: Co-convened by Canada and the European Commission, the Global Methane Pledge Ministerial brought together governments, international partners, and private-sector representatives to assess progress towards reducing global methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. Discussions highlighted a significant implementation gap, with current commitments projected to deliver only around 10–11% of the reductions required to meet the target. Ministers called for stronger policies, improved emissions measurement and transparency, and greater mobilization of public and private finance. Priorities included reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations, improving leak detection and repair, expanding biogas recovery, diverting organic waste from landfills, and promoting lower-emission livestock and rice production. Brazil presented its sectoral plan for solid waste and urban effluents, which includes organic waste treatment targets and the involvement of waste-picker cooperatives. Other countries highlighted efforts to strengthen regulatory frameworks, establish dedicated institutional capacity for super pollutant mitigation, and develop national methane-reduction roadmaps. Discussions also emphasized the use of satellite data and artificial intelligence to identify emissions, alongside stronger cooperation between producer and consumer countries to encourage lower-methane production.
Climate Finance and Institutional Capacity Identified as Major Implementation Challenges: At the COP31 Global Climate Action Agenda's Axis 6 Synthesis Roundtable, representatives from governments, international organizations, and financial institutions examined how finance, technology, and capacity-building could accelerate climate action. The CCAC's Hidden Assets assessment highlighted that 25 proven climate and clean air solutions could generate approximately USD 15 in economic benefits for every dollar invested. However, institutional, technical, and financial barriers can delay implementation by an average of eight years, reducing the benefits that could otherwise be realized during this decade. The CCAC also highlighted progress under its Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator, launched at COP30 with an initial commitment of USD 25 million. The initiative is supporting its first seven countries: Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, and South Africa. The programme aims to strengthen national institutions, develop sectoral policies, and prepare investment-ready projects through dedicated country teams and technical assistance. Financing remains a major obstacle. According to a CCAC and Climate Policy Initiative assessment, only USD 9 billion was tracked for super pollutant abatement in 2023, representing just 0.5% of global climate mitigation finance.
Africa Highlights Economic Opportunities from Clean Air and Methane Reduction: At the Africa Pavilion, the CCAC, UNEP, and African Union Commission brought together governments and partners to explore investment opportunities in clean air and super pollutant mitigation. Findings from the UNEP–CCAC Hidden Assets assessment highlighted the economic benefits of integrated climate and clean air solutions, estimating that every dollar invested could generate approximately USD 26 in economic benefits in Southern Africa and USD 11 in North Africa, compared with the global estimate of USD 15. Discussions also highlighted different regional priorities. In Sub-Saharan Africa, expanding access to clean cooking offers significant health and development benefits while reducing black carbon emissions. In North Africa, reducing methane leakage, venting, and flaring from oil and gas operations presents an important opportunity for near-term emissions reductions. Better waste management, cleaner transport, and reductions in open burning were also identified as important areas for action. Participants discussed the Africa Clean Air Programme, which aims to strengthen air quality governance, improve emissions monitoring, build technical capacity, and support coordinated implementation across the continent.
Indonesia Explores Opportunities to Strengthen Methane Mitigation: Indonesia's Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat met with CCAC Head of Secretariat Martina Otto to discuss two key priorities: reducing methane emissions from open waste dumping, particularly in Jakarta, and expanding methane capture and utilization for energy production. Discussions also explored opportunities to mobilize private-sector investment and carbon market financing through Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, alongside stronger cooperation on methane and broader super pollutant mitigation.
Circular Refrigerant Management Gains Attention: Türkiye's Ministry of Environment and Japan's Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, in collaboration with the CCAC, convened discussions on building a circular economy for refrigerants through Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM). According to the 2024 Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) Task Force Report, effective refrigerant lifecycle management could avoid approximately 39 GtCO₂e in emissions between 2025 and 2050. Türkiye shared its progress in strengthening regulations for fluorinated gases and developing a dedicated Circular on Waste F-Gases, while Japan presented its experience in refrigerant recovery and lifecycle management. The CCAC also highlighted the Friends of the Kigali Amendment as a platform for strengthening political momentum and international cooperation. Participants emphasized the importance of effective regulations, technical capacity, financing, and public-private partnerships to improve refrigerant recovery and reduce emissions from existing cooling equipment.
Organic Waste Solutions Highlighted as Opportunities for Methane Reduction: A session at the COP31 Food and Agriculture Pavilion explored Black Soldier Fly (BSF) systems and biogas technologies as practical approaches to reducing methane emissions from organic waste. BSF systems can convert organic waste into animal feed and soil-enhancing products, while biogas technologies can generate renewable energy and support improved organic waste treatment. Piotr Barczak of Africa Circular presented the BUGS project, which supports the development of BSF systems across Africa. Practitioners from Nipe Fagio in Tanzania, the CCAC-supported FLOWERS project implemented by Collect Village in Uganda, and GAIA Asia Pacific in Indonesia also shared experiences with BSF, biogas, and composting solutions. Participants emphasized that scaling up these approaches will require locally adapted technologies, technical assistance, and greater access to financing.
COP31's third day reinforced the importance of addressing methane emissions and waste management as part of broader climate action. Discussions demonstrated that proven technologies and solutions are available, but their wider adoption depends on stronger policies, accessible finance, technical assistance, and international cooperation. From country-led methane reduction programmes and circular refrigerant management to innovative organic waste solutions, the focus is increasingly shifting towards measurable implementation. As the summit progresses, translating these opportunities into adequately financed projects and tangible emissions reductions will be critical to delivering meaningful climate outcomes.
