Lowering Organic Waste Methane (LOW-Methane)

The Lowering Organic Waste Methane (LOW-Methane) initiative is a coalition of organisations working and collaborating on data, policies, technical assistance and finance solutions to subnational governments and and their national government counterparts to accelerate the delivery of the Global Methane Pledge and the Paris Agreement by cutting 1 million tonnes of annual methane emissions from the solid waste sector well before 2030. This will require unlocking up to $10 billion in public and private investment across as many as 40 jurisdictions.

How LOW-Methane Works

The LOW-Methane Initiative works with jurisdictions to help them identify ambitious actions to reduce waste methane emissions and unlock implementation by mobilising partner support.  

The initiative helps crowd-in support - on data, finance, policy and operations - identifying global good practice to help develop an ambitious and achievable plan for reducing methane emissions.

Jurisdictions join by indication from LOW-M partners. Going forward, there will be more opportunities for more jurisdictions to participate.

LOW-Methane Portfolios

The LOW-M initiative collaborates with select subnational jurisdictions in tailored ways, with portfolio development being a crucial step for each partnership. This process can be led by a LOW-M group, an engaged partner organisation, or the jurisdiction itself.

The first phase involves setting a clear, ambitious target for waste methane reduction that aligns with the Global Methane Pledge. Following this, a comprehensive mapping of ongoing and recently completed initiatives in waste methane action is conducted. This assessment helps identify key high-priority goals and necessary actions, particularly highlighting existing gaps in capacity, resources, technical expertise, or other areas.

The resulting portfolios serve as a valuable resource for LOW-M partners and stakeholders, providing a clear overview of the most promising methane reduction opportunities within the jurisdiction. These portfolios consider political commitment, technical and financial feasibility, and specify support needs. Additionally, they offer estimations of methane mitigation potential, co-benefits generated, and investment requirements. This approach aims to mobilise and align support for implementing vital actions, facilitating accelerated progress toward methane reduction goals. 

LOW-Methane’s Unique Impact