CCAC Newsletter – April 2025

May is shaping up to be a busy month!

In this month's newsletter, we reflect on the impactful discussions around super pollutants and innovative solutions at San Francisco Climate Week and celebrate the achievements of some of our recently completed projects. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events, including the National Methane Roadmap Planning session and our COP17 side event on waste management.

San Francisco Climate Week

During San Francisco Climate Week, the CCAC and Spark Climate Solutions co-organized "Addressing super pollutants: The other half of climate change," featuring discussions on policy deployment, agricultural innovations, and climate feedback emissions, highlighting initiatives like the Subnational Methane Action Coalition and the upcoming 2025 State of the Science Summit: Reducing Methane from Animal Agriculture.

During this week, the CCAC also participated in "Accelerating Methane-Reducing Technologies in Agriculture and Innovative Market-Based Mechanisms" with Spark and Clean Air Task Force, focusing on scaling innovative solutions and market mechanisms, where the CCAC presented its TEAP Report on digital extension services for reducing livestock methane emissions through improved efficiency.

Upcoming events

National Methane Roadmap Planning in Liberia and Morocco

What: In this session, our implementing partners involved in methane roadmap projects in Liberia and Morocco will share their experiences, implementation strategies, and valuable lessons learned along the way.

When: 9 May 2025, 15:00 - 16:30 (Paris)

Where: Virtual

COP17 Side Event - Waste in the Spotlight: A Call for Sound Management & Global Action

What: While plastic pollution is a visible problem, the unseen air, soil, and water contamination from poor waste management is equally damaging. This side event, organized by a coalition of partners, will highlight waste management's crucial role in sustainable development, showcase environmentally sound management for household waste, and explore the contributions of women and the informal sector.

When: 13:15 - 15:00 (Geneva)

Where: Hybrid, Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG)

Join virtually here.

Community-based waste management projects in Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa launched

Upscaling community-based waste management projects through project co-development with the informal sector and community-based groups in Chile, Indonesia, and South Africa are in the pipeline.

The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), together with the Chile National Waste Pickers Association (ANARCH), Yaksa Pelestari Bumi BerkelanjutanYPBB Bandung, and groundWork will set-up models of informal sector or grassroots community integration in organic waste management in Bandung, Valparaiso, and Durban to demonstrate its feasibility and support the implementation, upscaling, and replication in other countries.

Through this project, the groups aim to get local governments to endorse organic waste management business models and financing solutions roadmaps for the informal and community based groups, as well as an increased recognition of the role of informal sector and community-based groups as key contributors to methane emissions reduction in the revised climate plans, and to place at the center of it all inclusion and social justice.

CCAC in Action!

Funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and with crucial support from Greenlife West Africa, Liberia recently released its Methane Roadmap!

Methane roadmaps are strategic frameworks designed to reduce methane emissions by outlining key policies and actions for measurable impact. These roadmaps guide governments and stakeholders in developing effective policies and regulations.

Call for submissions for agri-food system solutions

Call for nomination of expert reviewers for the 2025 Global Methane Status Report

The CCAC is pleased to invite nominations for expert reviewers for the 2025 Global Methane Status Report. This report will aim at providing the international community with a clear global picture of the status of progress to date on methane mitigation and the remaining gap, as well as momentum and incentive for rapid and increased action.

Interested individuals are kindly requested to complete this nomination form by 19 May 2025.

Expert reviewers will be asked to review the first order draft of the report and provide comments to be addressed by relevant lead authors and authors.

Call for proposals for UNEP's 3DEN initiative

Phase II of the 3DEN initiative is accepting applications for pilot projects on digitalization for urban energy systems and agri-food industries. Their team is looking for a wide range of applicants—research institutes, think tanks, development banks, international organizations, and private companies—who are ready to scale impactful climate solutions in Brazil and across Africa.

3DEN is led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), with the support of the Italian government.

Deadline: 23 May 2025

Learn more here.

Media digest

The past month has seen a steady stream of media coverage across the clean air and climate community, spanning outlets such as the Financial Times, The Guardian, Euronews, Bloomberg, Japan Times, Washington Post, PBS, RFI, VOM News, SciDev.net, Chicago Sun-Times, Earth.com, Mongabay, and the Chemical Engineer.

Topics gaining attention included new policies to curb methane leaks across Europe, innovations using seaweed to reduce livestock methane, the importance of action on black carbon as glaciers disappear, the role of tropospheric ozone and nitrous oxide in warming, persistent emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, strong global public support for methane action, methane emissions from natural craters, and progress made in tackling air pollution in major urban areas like Paris, London, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

The World Is Waking Up to the Dangers of Super Pollutants

Published by Bloomberg, April 2

Opinion piece from a leading global financial news outlet, discussing how targeting super pollutants like methane and black carbon offers a rapid and effective means to slow climate change. The article emphasizes the need for immediate action to reduce these emissions.

Are rising lower respiratory infection hospital admissions linked to dirty air?

Published by The Guardian, April 4

In-depth analysis from a leading UK newspaper, examining new evidence linking prolonged air pollution exposure with increased respiratory-related hospital admissions. The article highlights health disparities and the need for stricter air quality standards.

Ground-level ozone pollution poses growing threat to planetary health

Published by Mongabay, April 8

Feature from a respected environmental science news platform, examining how climate change exacerbates ground-level ozone pollution, leading to increased health risks and crop damage. The article underscores the urgency of addressing this issue through policy and technological interventions.

Europe’s biggest meteorite crater is leaking dangerous amounts of methane

Published by Euronews, April 9

Article from a leading EU-based online publisher, highlighting how the Ries crater in Germany is leaking significant quantities of methane. Scientists emphasize the importance of understanding natural sources of methane emissions alongside human activities in order to create comprehensive climate strategies.

Air pollution in Paris region cut in half over the past 20 years

Published by RFI, April 9

Article from France’s international public broadcaster, reporting that air pollution in Paris has dropped by nearly 50% since 2000, due to transport policy, regulations, and investment in clean technologies.

Can Paris finally beat its decades-long smog problem?

Published by The Washington Post, April 12

Feature from a leading U.S. national newspaper, examining Paris’s continued battle against air pollution. It explores both successes and setbacks, including disparities in exposure among different communities.

Ultra-potent greenhouse gases still 'major problem' – despite global agreement to phase out

Published by The Chemical Engineer, April 15

Analysis from a professional engineering publication, reporting on new studies indicating that emissions of HFC-23, a potent greenhouse gas, are significantly higher than previously estimated. The article discusses the implications for global climate agreements and the need for stricter enforcement.

Nitrous oxide emissions erupt from farms in unpredictable bursts

Published by Earth.com, April 21

Report from a science-focused news outlet, highlighting recent research that reveals the erratic nature of nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils. The findings suggest that current monitoring methods may underestimate emissions, calling for improved measurement techniques and farming practices.

As glaciers disappear, we must act now on black carbon

Published by SciDev.net, April 22

Opinion piece from a respected global science and development media platform, underscoring the critical need to act on black carbon emissions to slow glacial melting, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Himalayas and the Arctic.

Chicago's air among the most polluted as nation undergoes ‘distressing reversal’

Published by Chicago Sun-Times, April 23

Article from a major regional newspaper, reporting on worsening air quality in Chicago based on new American Lung Association findings. The piece explores contributing factors and outlines possible measures to address rising health risks.

Farmers turn to seaweed to reduce methane emissions from livestock

Published by PBS NewsHour, April 24

Feature from a major U.S. public broadcasting outlet, exploring how some farmers are experimenting with feeding cattle seaweed-based supplements to curb methane production. Early studies suggest certain types of seaweed can reduce emissions from livestock by up to 80%, offering a potentially game-changing mitigation strategy.

Spain Wants EU to Keep Methane Goals While Seeking LNG Supplies

Published by Bloomberg, April 24

Report from a prominent international financial news outlet, focusing on Spain's push for the European Union to maintain strict methane reduction targets, even while diversifying natural gas sources. The article notes Spain’s leadership role in supporting stronger methane regulations despite energy security concerns.

New international poll: Countries most impacted by climate change exhibit strongest support for climate and methane action

Published by VOM News, April 26

Coverage from a regional digital news source, highlighting a new international survey revealing that populations in countries most vulnerable to climate change show the strongest support for global action on climate and methane emissions, reinforcing calls for equity and urgency in global negotiations.

The dangers of ‘super-pollutants’ and how we can curb them

Published by The Japan Times, April 28

Commentary from a major English-language Japanese daily, discussing the outsized role that super pollutants, including methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons, play in accelerating climate change, and how tackling them offers a major opportunity for near-term climate benefits.

**Disclaimer: These Headlines consist of selected excerpts from press articles for the information of CCAC Partners. The inclusion of headlines does not imply endorsement by CCAC. The Communications of the CCAC Secretariat does not vouch for the accuracy of this information and is not responsible for any errors contained therein. Please note that this information should be used solely for information purposes and is not for further distribution.

New three-part series on super pollutants

The CCAC and We Don’t Have Time are proud to present “Accelerating Action on Super Pollutants: The Road to COP30”.

It is a new three-part series shot in Brasilia in late March, in advance of the next, critical UN climate conference to be held in Belem, Brazil in November 2025. This latest three-part series involves interviews, debates and a field trip to an inspiring waste pickers project filmed during the CCAC’s annual conference of governments, UN officials, scientists, experts and grassroots organizations.

Scientific Papers Published by CCAC Scientific Advisory Panel Members

Assessing alternative methane emission metrics conducive to quantifying global warming and setting near-term climate goals

While common climate metrics like GWP struggle to represent temperature changes from short-lived gases like methane across different timescales, the more accurate GWP faces implementation challenges, including potential misuse. To address these issues, the authors propose Sum44, a 44-year lagged cumulative sum of methane emissions, as a new metric capable of accurately predicting temperature change without the identified drawbacks of GWP.

Co-authored by SAP, Gabrielle B Dreyfus

Reducing Emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, Perspectives on Law and Governance

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like methane and black carbon are now central to climate policy discussions due to their potential for near-term warming reduction and co-benefits like improved air quality. This book offers the first comprehensive analysis of global SLCP law and governance, with contributors exploring the science, legal frameworks across different levels, and specific sectoral examples.

(Co-edited by SAP, Yulia Yamineva)