Climate and Clean Air Conference 2025: Daily Update – 18 March 2025

And We’re Off: The 2025 Climate and Clean Air Conference Begins

The 2025 Climate and Clean Air Conference kicked off today in Brasília, Brazil, bringing together a dynamic mix of global leaders, experts, and advocates to tackle super pollutants head-on. With the theme "Now We Can: Supercharging Action on Super Pollutants and Air Pollution on the Road to COP30", the 3-day event is aiming to increase ambition in the fight against dangerous super pollutants that are accelerating climate change and creating air pollution globally. Day 1 saw several key gatherings take place, including a high-level opening plenary, a plenary on enhancing super pollutant ambition in upcoming NDC 3.0, and breakout sessions on agriculture, heavy-duty vehicles and engines, tropospheric ozone, organic waste, and the CCAC Clean Air Flagship. The CCAC Board also concluded its two-day meeting, with members agreeing that accelerating implementation of solutions is key. Stay tuned for a summary of the meeting from CCAC Co-Chairs  

Opening Plenary  

The opening plenary of the conference set a determined tone, emphasizing the urgency of tackling super pollutants and ramping up climate action. Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, underscored that reducing super pollutant emissions is the fastest way to curb global warming and stay below the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement. With just five years to make decisive progress, she stressed that this moment must be seized to move from ambition to implementation.  

In a keynote address, Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil, emphasized that the world must strengthen multilateralism to meet these climate challenges, highlighting Brazil’s commitment to hosting COP30 as a milestone for global climate action. She noted that super pollutants are responsible for nearly half of climate change impacts and must be at the core of climate strategies.

Representing the UK as CCAC-Co-Chair, Tony Kay OBE, Deputy Head of Mission, UK Embassy Brasilia, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to ambitious mitigation targets, encouraging countries to release updated NDCs ahead of COP30 with strong commitments on super pollutants. He highlighted the UK’s ongoing efforts to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector and improve clean air policies, and the UK’s commitment to supporting Brazil on the Road to COP30.  

Finance emerged as a critical issue, with Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Climate Change, World Bank, stressing the need for increased funding, better financial instruments, and improved access to climate finance for vulnerable communities. She noted that while global subsidies for fossil fuels and high-emission industries amount to trillions, funding for methane and other super pollutant reductions remains far too low.  

In a major announcement, Marcelo Mena, CEO, Global Methane Hub, pledged $10 million to the CCAC over the next two years, reinforcing the urgency of methane mitigation. He highlighted the success of initiatives like Carbon Mapper in tracking methane emissions and the importance of independent monitoring for accountability.

Alberto Pacheco Capella, Representative of the Sub-Regional Office for the Southern Cone of Latin America, UNEP, emphasized that addressing SLCPs is a “triple win” for climate, health, and the economy. João Crescencio Aragão Marinho, Deputy Secretary of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperativism, Brazil, focused on the role of agriculture in mitigation strategies, stressing the need for food security to be integrated into emissions reduction plans.

Another key announcement came from Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary of Urban Environment, Water Resources and Environmental Quality, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil, and CCAC Co-Chair, who confirmed Brazil’s commitment to the Lowering Organic Waste Methane Initiative (LOW-M).  LOW-M, which now includes over 30 partners across 35 countries, supports cities in reducing methane emissions from waste by scaling up sustainable waste management practices. He highlighted that waste remains one of the largest sources of methane emissions in Brazilian cities, with over 90% of landfills lacking methane capture systems. He announced that three Brazilian cities—Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, and Belém—would be joining the LOW-M initiative, bringing even more subnational governments into the methane reduction effort.

Marcelo Sicri Mourelle, Manager at COMLURB, Rio de Janeiro, and João Vicente Leitão, Secretary of Environment and Urbanism, Fortaleza, presented on their cities’ ambitious waste reduction and methane capture strategies. Rio is integrating biomethane into its public transport fleet while expanding composting programs to improve organic waste processing. Fortaleza is advancing its landfill gas recovery project, with plans to increase methane capture from 40% to 70% by optimizing landfill operations. Both city leaders emphasized the economic and public health benefits of improving waste management, noting that tackling methane emissions creates jobs, improves air quality, and strengthens climate resilience.

Throughout the plenary, there were repeated calls for inclusive climate action. Cleonilde Maria Nascimento, CYMG-nominated Brazilian youth representative, urged greater youth participation in climate policy, stating that young people are often excluded despite being among the most affected by climate change. She called for dedicated spaces in decision-making to ensure intergenerational equity.  

Across all sectors, the consensus was clear: the clock is ticking, and bold action is required. With COP30 on the horizon, all speakers agreed that reducing super pollutants is a critical—and achievable—step toward a healthier and more sustainable future.

NDC Plenary - Enhancing Inclusion of Super Pollutants in NDC 3.0  

The conference continued with a plenary session focused on integrating super pollutant mitigation into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with representatives from Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Fiji, Nigeria, and Ghana sharing their strategies and approaches for enhancing climate action plans.  

Ilissa Ocko, Senior Climate Scientist at Spark Climate Solutions, emphasized the critical importance of addressing super pollutant emissions to achieve rapid climate benefits. She highlighted that methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its mitigation offers one of the fastest ways to slow climate warming. Ocko advocated for comprehensive strategies that include immediate deployment of existing technologies while simultaneously developing new solutions.  

Milena Sergeeva of the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) presented an analysis of 170 NDCs, evaluating their inclusion of health impacts and air pollution considerations. The findings revealed an average score of 3.15 out of 15, indicating significant room for improvement. Notably, 14 out of the top 15 performing countries were lower or middle-income nations, demonstrating proactive measures in integrating health considerations into their climate commitments.

Johan Kuylenstierna, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), emphasized the importance of integrating air pollution and climate change strategies. He noted that SEI has supported approximately 30 countries in this endeavor, highlighting that nations scoring high in the GCHA assessments are often those collaborating with SEI.  

Brazil emphasized its commitment to an economy-wide NDC targeting all greenhouse gases, aiming for absolute reduction targets aligned with achieving neutrality by 2050. The updated NDC commits to a 59-67% reduction in absolute emissions based on 2005 levels, focusing on implementing existing policies and maximizing financial mechanisms.  

Mexico highlighted its integration of air pollution and climate change strategies through the development of an emissions inventory that combines air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Notably, Mexico was the first country to set a black carbon target within its NDC.  

Vietnam addressed significant methane emissions in its agricultural sector, focusing on integrated crop management and improved livestock feed. They noted that techniques like alternate wetting and drying in rice cultivation can achieve up to a 45% reduction in methane emissions. The country emphasizes capacity building among farmers and developing robust monitoring systems to track progress.  

Fiji discussed its planning phase for NDC 3.0, enhancing its Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, and exploring different feed types for dairy cows to reduce emissions. Fiji has also developed an NDC investment plan to facilitate access to climate finance, aiming to implement its climate targets effectively.  

Nigeria presented its NDC implementation framework (2023-2030), structured around outcomes with 300 key performance indicators. The framework aligns with national plans and includes sector-specific action plans targeting agriculture, energy, transport, and waste. Notably, Nigeria aims for a 42% reduction in black carbon emissions by 2030, contributing to both climate and air quality benefits.  

Ghana highlighted its engagement with multiple governments and private sector organizations to secure funds for implementing super pollutant reductions. The country has 68 projects in the pipeline, focusing on areas like clean cooking, e-mobility, and waste-to-energy initiatives.  

These interventions, and the plenary more broadly, underscored a global commitment to integrating super pollutant mitigation into NDCs, reflecting a comprehensive approach that addresses both climate and clean air.

Breakout Sessions – Agriculture: Building Food Systems Ambition to COP30 / Unlocking Climate Finance for Agriculture

During the Agriculture: Building Food Systems Ambition to COP30 and Unlocking Climate Finance for Agriculture breakout sessions, experts emphasized the dual role of adaptation and mitigation in agricultural practices. They highlighted the necessity of tailoring methane mitigation strategies to local contexts, considering factors such as production systems, infrastructure, and socio-cultural dynamics. The discussion underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating local knowledge with agronomic and social sciences to develop effective solutions. Challenges identified included limited access to finance and technical expertise for farmers, as well as the need for robust data collection to inform decision-making.  

Experts stressed better data collection and sharing to drive methane mitigation in the agriculture sector, as current data systems are inadequate for real-time decision-making at the farm level, with daily, weekly, and monthly monitoring required to track progress effectively. Partners stressed that by strengthening cooperation among countries and leveraging existing innovations, stakeholders can accelerate the adoption of locally tailored, globally scalable solutions for super pollutant mitigation in agriculture.

Breakout Sessions - Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Engines: Driving Action Through the CCAC Clean Air Flagship / Launch of the Global Sulfur Strategy Update

The Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Engines: Driving Action Through the CCAC Clean Air Flagship breakout session showcased the Coalition's ambitious 2024-2026 initiative and its impacts on the HDV sector, aiming to save lives, slow climate change, and maximize co-benefits. The session highlighted the importance of sectoral mitigation guidance, particularly in agriculture, transport, and waste management, to effectively reduce emissions. Experts emphasized actionable solutions such as electrification, stringent emission standards, logistics optimization, and urban planning to tackle pollutants like black carbon and nitrogen oxides. The discussion also underscored the significance of comprehensive emissions inventories, advanced air quality modeling, and the development of robust air quality standards to inform targeted mitigation strategies. Collaborative projects, including transforming freight corridors in South America and East Africa, were presented as models for reducing fuel consumption in heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, Ethiopia's recent initiatives to ban fossil fuel-powered vehicle imports and promote electric vehicle adoption were highlighted as progressive steps towards cleaner air. The session concluded with a call to action, emphasizing that existing technologies can achieve significant reductions in black carbon emissions, and protect public health while mitigating climate change.

The Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Engines: Launch of the Global Sulfur Strategy session unveiled the updated Global Strategy to Introduce Low-Sulfur Fuels and Cleaner Diesel Vehicles. This strategy emphasizes a subregional approach and highlights the transition to electrification. Significant progress has been made since 2016, with 115 countries now adopting low-sulfur fuel standards, up from just 40. The strategy underscores the necessity of an integrated approach, combining vehicle emission standards with fuel quality improvements, to achieve substantial health and environmental benefits.  Côte d’Ivoire presented its sustainable electric public transport project, currently in the preparation phase, which includes the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems with electric buses. This initiative aims to reduce CO₂ emissions from the transport sector, the country's second-largest contributor. Cambodia shared advancements in air quality monitoring, highlighting the expansion to 63 sites, including 10 reference-based stations and 53 sensors, reflecting a commitment to improving air quality management.

The session concluded that adopting low-sulfur fuels and cleaner diesel vehicles is both an urgent and achievable goal, promising significant health and climate benefits.

Breakout Sessions – Waste: Breakthrough Ambitions in Organic Waste / Transformative Actions in Reducing SLCPs from Waste

The Breakthrough Ambitions in Organic Waste session looked at innovative strategies for managing and valorizing organic waste. Discussions highlighted the significant benefits of reducing food loss and waste, including improvements in health, nutrition, and employment opportunities. The session emphasized the importance of supportive policies and access to finance in enabling effective organic waste management. Representatives from Lagos and Rio de Janeiro underscored the need for creative approaches tailored to their cities' diverse infrastructures and communities, and they advocated for strategies that not only address waste reduction but also enhanced public health, nutrition, and job creation, moving beyond mere regulation to holistic community betterment.

The Transformative Actions in Reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) from Waste session highlighted innovative strategies to mitigate emissions from the waste sector. Discussions emphasized the importance of viewing waste as a valuable resource rather than a problem without a solution. Experts explored the development of new planning tools and the rapid adoption of satellite data to monitor and manage methane emissions effectively, and the session also addressed the need for innovative financial approaches, both operational and capital expenditures, to ensure sustainable funding for waste management initiatives. These combined efforts aim to achieve transformative outcomes in reducing super pollutants in the waste sector, benefiting both the environment and public health.

Breakout Session - Science-Policy Dialogue on Tropospheric Ozone  

During the Science-Policy Dialogue on Tropospheric Ozone, experts delved into the intricate challenges posed by this potent greenhouse gas. Drew Shindell, Chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition's Scientific Advisory Panel, highlighted the complexity of ozone's impact, noting it's "the net effect of multiple pollutants on the climate." Discussions underscored the severe health risks of ozone exposure, including respiratory ailments and emerging links to metabolic disorders. The conversation also addressed ozone's detrimental effects on agriculture, where it hampers crop yields and diminishes nutritional value, ultimately threatening global food security. Participants emphasized the necessity of regional collaboration and robust policy frameworks, such as the Gothenburg Protocol, to effectively reduce ozone precursors. The session concluded with a call to integrate scientific insights into actionable policies, aiming to mitigate the multifaceted threats posed by tropospheric ozone. Tom Grylls, Head of Super Pollutants at the Clean Air Fund, presented on The Case for Action on Tropospheric Ozone policy brief. The brief outlines why a coordinated, strategic approach to reducing tropospheric ozone is critical to protecting our climate, improving public health, and supporting ecosystems.

Breakout Session – CCAC Clean Air Flagship

The CCAC Clean Air Flagship session provided an update to partners on the Flagship, which was launched at COP28 in Dubai. The Flagship aims to enhance global efforts in achieving cleaner air by 2026. The session covered several initiatives underway, including the Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx), launched by the CCAC Secretariat on International Clean Air Day 2024, which serves as a comprehensive resource for air quality managers worldwide. There was an update on the Africa Clean Air Programme (ACAP), which emerged from an integrated assessment involving over 100 African scientists, and where efforts are underway to develop a continental roadmap. The Secretariat has outlined several strategic initiatives to advance its Clean Air Flagship goals for 2025, including strengthening partner engagement by establishing a Clean Air Task Team steering committee to guide the flagship's direction and activities. Private Sector Engagement was also discussed, notably through an update on the Alliance for Clean Air, developed in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and Clean Air Fund (CAF), which now comprises 22 multinational companies.