COP30 Update – November 11

COP30 Continues

As COP rolls into its third day, a welcome sign of early progress as a formal agenda for the Conference was adopted. Widely seen as a first hurdle for every COP, it means negotiators have now begun discussions in earnest towards progress on climate finance as well as a myriad of other climate issues. Elsewhere, Reuters reports that COP32 will be hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A decision on COP31 is expected to be made over the coming week.

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Photo credit: Super Pollutant Action Alliance, Global Methane Hub, Clean Air Fund

Super Pollutants at COP30

Super pollutants continue to play a sizeable role at COP30, with many CCAC partners organizing and participating in side events across the Blue Zone on Tuesday, including high-level ministerial discussions on waste methane abatement.  

At the event From Neglect to Action: Multilevel Solutions to End Open Waste Burning, organized by UN-Habitat with partners including the CCAC, IGES, ISWA, Engineering X, and Practical Action, Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, highlighted the global health and climate impacts of open waste burning and called for urgent action to integrate waste management into national climate and air quality strategies. She underscored the CCAC-led initiative developing regional roadmaps and city pilots to eliminate open burning, citing Africa’s regional target of a 60 percent reduction by 2030 and full elimination by 2040 as an example of leadership and collaboration. The session emphasized that with clear policies, sustainable financing, and strong partnerships, cities can turn waste from a symbol of neglect into a source of cleaner air, healthier lives, and green jobs.

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At the High-Level Ministerial Event on Waste Management and Circular Economy, Brazil positioned waste at the heart of COP30’s climate agenda, showcasing how circularity can drive both mitigation and inclusive growth. Opening with the signature of a new commitment by mayors and the private sector to reduce methane, the session featured the launch of the NOW! (No Organic Waste) Initiative under the COP30 Plan to Accelerate Solutions, the first global effort to eliminate organic and food waste, aiming to mobilize $10 billion in finance. As part of the event, Global Methane Hub (GMH) announced an initial $30 million into the NOW! Initiative. A clear takeaway: cities have understood this potential and are already acting through initiatives such as LOW-M, committing to going further and faster. The discussion underscored that circularity is not just an environmental necessity but a powerful engine for cleaner air, healthier communities, and resilient, inclusive economies.

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Photo credit: Super Pollutant Action Alliance, Global Methane Hub, Clean Air Fund

At the event Emerging Technical Measures to Reduce Super Pollutant Emissions from Rice Cultivation, organized by the Environmental Defense Fund at the Super Pollutant Pavilion, Martina opened the session by highlighting the upcoming launch of the CCAC Technology and Economic Assessment Panel’s new report on low-emission rice cultivation. She emphasized that rice cultivation, responsible for about 10 percent of global methane emissions, presents one of the fastest opportunities for near-term climate gains. The report identifies proven measures such as alternate wetting and drying, direct seeding, residue management, and improved fertilizer use, alongside digital tools that connect smallholder farmers with data, advice, and carbon market access. As part of the discussions, it was underscored that integrated approaches can cut methane, nitrous oxide, and black carbon while boosting yields and livelihoods, showing how technology, policy, and finance can align to make low-emission rice cultivation a cornerstone of climate and food system transformation.

Also on Tuesday, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) held a press conference, bringing the message that climate finance must back zero waste solutions that cut methane, as well as deliver a just transition for waste pickers. Read their latest publication here.  

In Case You Missed It

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The Super Pollutant Pavilion, co-hosted by Global Methane Hub (GMH), the Super Pollutant Action Alliance (SPAA), and Clean Air Fund (CAF), is running programming and events in the Blue Zone until November 20. Check out the latest here. Stop by and join our partners in pulling the “climate emergency brake”.