#cities4climate

There are now 164 Mayors! #Cities4Climate is putting America First

Thx Bloomberg for representing NYC

As 150 US Mayors representing 47 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.

We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.

In early April, the US Climate Alliance hosted a webinar attended by representatives from twenty member states, looking at the intersection of climate action and waste management.

Chris Godlove of THINKCities presented to this group on circular economy and opportunities for a move away from linear systems of waste management to circular ones. Circular economy is a concept that goes beyond a traditional focus on recycling, looking to comprehensive approaches that include linking producers of materials traditionally considered waste to new productive uses. 

The presentation focused on sectoral approaches to circular economy, looking to implementation models with a focus on hotels, textiles, buildings, agriculture and food processing. Also included was a look at examples of how this approach has been successfully applied in cities in the US and globally, as well as the beneficial climate impacts of these measures. Focus on the specific US context and opportunities for voluntary and policy driven models was also included.

The talk concluded with a look at the steps required to launch a circular economy initiative at a city or state level, as well as the opportunities for integration of circular economy into a Build Back Better approach post COVID-19.

Chris Godlove, Principal, THINKCities, presented April 3, 2020 to the US Climate Alliance (USCA) on “Linear to Circular: Climate Action and Circular Economy” as part of a series of regular technical and policy discussions hosted by USCA.

Chris Godlove, THINKCities, presented on the IPCC waste guidelines as part of the UN Office of Sustainable Development’s (UNOSD) ‘Second greenhouse gas inventory system training workshop’ held January 13 to 16, 2020, in Bangkok. Over 80 participants from across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Central Asia took part, representing more than twenty countries all assembled at UN ESCAP headquarters in the Thai capital.

In addition to the highlighted focus designed to facilitate the development of a transparent GHG inventory system, one supportive of climate action globally, participants and presenters discussed other relevant topics including linkages to the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate, emissions trading systems (ETS), IPCC refinement and climate change policy status in Korea, Indonesia, and Tonga.

Complementing his presentation on the waste guidelines, Mr. Godlove delivered a second session designed to reinforce theoretical aspects of the waste guidelines. This session was approached via a facilitated group activity involving case studies designed to promote the development of GHG emissions estimations based on several waste related scenarios.

In addition to the focus on waste guidelines, other noted experts presented on IPCC guidelines for energy, industrial processes and product use, and agriculture forestry and land use. Other presenters offered insights into financing arrangements of the Green Climate Fund and key considerations related to MRV. A bike ride through the Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden caped off the learning, offering a view of Bangkok’s largest urban green space protected by Royal patronage, and offering a unique model for conservation in an urban setting.

This workshop was supported by UNOSD based in Incheon, South Korea, and the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization. This is the second inventory development workshop that THINKCities has been invited to participate in, having presented on the waste guidelines as part of the first workshop held in 2018.

A first visit to Cambodia earlier this year took me to the town of Kep on the southwestern coast near the border with Vietnam. After an overnight in Phnom Penh we travelled the three and half hours passing a mix of roadside farmhouses,  village life and traffic jams. One thing stood out - Cambodia has a problem with plastics and waste.

The Asia Foundation had asked me to lead a study looking at waste management in Kep as part of their partnership with the Cambodian National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD). We were joined by colleagues from the Cambodian Ministries of Environment and Interior. Our objective was to understand how waste in Kep was being managed and to recommend ways to improve residents’ access to waste services while protecting the natural beauty of the area, developing a model to guide waste system change in other secondary Cambodian cities.

Cambodia is a low-income country with a young population.  Today it is experiencing rapid economic growth fueled by foreign investment from other Asian nations, mainly China. The skyline of Phnom Penh is dotted by the high-rise developments familiar in other southeast Asian cities. Cambodia is betting heavily on foreign visitors to further diversify economically, relying on its tropical climate, scenic countryside, low-key lifestyle and friendly people as its primary draws. In line with this strategy, officials are finally coming to understand the importance of clean beaches and litter free cultural and public spaces generally.

Waste management in Cambodia is in its infancy and while central Phnom Penh has decent infrastructure and service, secondary cities experience low rates of collection combined with poorly managed dumpsites. Kep is no exception. What is surprising about Cambodia’s waste sector is that almost all municipal waste services are run by private operators, collecting service fees and waste directly from markets, business and households, with little involvement or oversight from local authorities.

Kep faces a serious waste challenge and local authorities are aware of the important choices they must make but are offered little support from the national level. Further complicating the situation is the partial process of decentralization of municipal service provision, leading to blurred lines of responsibility between local and regional authorities for waste and other services. This is beginning to change as national authorities aided by international development partners are now making efforts to support decision making and encourage investment in the waste sector.

Last month I had the opportunity to facilitate a panel discussion that included cities and experts from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.  The panel focused on the actions cities are taking globally to simultaneously address waste management and climate action.

The three-hour session was sponsored by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and presented within the context of the Africities 8 Summit, November 20-24 in Marrakech, Morocco.  Africities hosts a series of summits, this year's attended by over 5000 participants, representing stakeholders linked to the development and sustainability of African cities across the continent.  Partners from around the world were also well represented.

Not having attended an Africities Summit before I was impressed by their scale and scope.  We often hear about the urban challenges that African cites are facing, but this event managed to make those challenges more concrete.  I heard about the need for investment, training and technology, the strong interest for more focus on health and safety, as well as the desire to better integrate those on the margins of Africa’s waste management operations.

The discussion kicked-off with a welcome from the Moroccan Minister of Environment, Ms. Nezha El Ouafi.  CCAC’s Sandra Mazo-Nix and ISWA’s Aditi Ramola headed up an experts panel that included the Deputy Mayor of Yokohama and a representative from the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) who spoke on organic waste management in Latin America and how this approach is a proven strategy for avoiding methane emissions. A second panel discussion included the Mayor of Beni Melal, Morocco, a city leading through upgrades to its disposal sites and direct dialogue with waste pickers, and Plateforme Resources, a grassroots waste management NGO based in Burkina Faso.  The Moroccan Coalition for Waste Recycling (COVAD) as well as representatives from the French Agency for Environment and Energy (ADEME), the German cooperation agency GIZ, and SUEZ Environment also contributed.

The venue was standing room-only, highlighting the importance of waste management to cities in the region. It is also clear that while many international agencies are developing thoughtful responses, wide scope remains to support African cities interested to partner as they work to develop their own path to climate friendly waste management. This morning session on the second day of the Africities Summit concluded after three hours of information packed discussions.  While frustrating to conclude with so many questions still remaining, the opportunity for exchange that this forum offered was unique.  The groundwork for on-going partnership between Africa’s cities and the organizations offering support has been established.  Clearly there is much interest and enthusiasm on all sides for it to continue. 

Chris Godlove, Principal, THINKCities, facilitated the session “Local Strategies for Access to Waste Management Services for All” as part of the Africities 8 Summit held in Marrakech, Morocco. Thanks to CCAC and ISWA for this opportunity and to Mounia Elliq who supported in her role as Rapporteur.

Things have been busy over the past few months.  I'm writing to share an update!

Launch of the cities network for climate friendly waste management in South East Europe, Central Asia and Middle East - two workshops focused on waste management and climate finance readiness. Supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Development of a finance training module to facilitate improved air quality management in Asian cities with Clean Air Asia (CAA). And, a presentation on IPCC’s waste methodology for GHG inventory development as part of a workshop that included 47 participants from 27 countries. An initiative organized by the UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD).

A stop in Japan for the International Water Association’s (IWA) World Water Conference in Tokyo, facilitating a workshop to assist global water and wastewater utilities push forward with innovative low-carbon approaches.

Recently I’ve been fortunate to join a group of climate and urban sustainability experts as part of the expert registries of the European Commission’s DG Regio and URBACT lists, as well as the CCAC’s expert roster for waste.

I look forward to discussing with you future opportunities for collaboration!