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Global Methane Hub Spearheads Transformative Climate Action at COP28

The Global Methane Hub Will Host Several Events Focused on Methane with Leading Environmental Organizations and High-Profile Speakers

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023 – The Global Methane Hub (GMH) is excited to announce its participation at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), where it will host a series of events addressing the urgent threat of methane emissions and their impact on climate change. GMH invites all interested parties to join these thought-provoking discussions and initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions worldwide.

Global Methane Hub Hosted Events and Announcements

Waste Methane Assessment Platform (MAP) Launch: Methane Emissions Tracking and Satellite Actionable Data

WHEN: Friday, Dec 1st, 15:00 to 16:30 Local time (Dubai) / Friday Dec 1st, 6:00am EST

WHERE: Waste and Resources Pavilion, COP28

DESCRIPTION: Join us for the launch of the groundbreaking Waste MAP, the first-ever global platform to use satellite monitoring to track and measure the locations and amounts of methane emissions from the waste sector. The event will feature opening remarks by representatives from Google.org and GMH, a demonstration of the platform, and a panel discussion.

WHO:

Speakers

  • Brigitte Hoyer, Director, AI & Sustainability, Google.org.
  • Marcelo Mena, CEO, Global Methane Hub.
  • RMI: Tom Frankiewicz, Waste Methane Expert.
  • CATF: Jonathan Banks, Global Director for methane program

Panelists

  • Karina Barrera, Undersecretariat of Climate Change, MAAE, Ecuador.
  • Bram (J.D.) Maasakkers, Senior Scientist, SRON.
  • Mackenzie Huffman, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Carbon Mapper.
  • Corinne Trommsdorff, Director of the French Solid Waste Partnership
  • Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Nigeria

Lowering Organic Waste / LOW Methane Partnership Launch

Advancing Ambitious Multi-Level Climate Action organized by the Subnational Climate Action Leaders’ Exchange (SCALE)

WHEN: Saturday, Dec 2nd, 13:30- 15:15 Local time (Dubai) / Saturday, Dec 2nd, 4:15am EST

WHERE: Al Hur Action Arena, Global Climate Action Hub, Blue Zone

DESCRIPTION: LOW Methane is a new initiative to jumpstart a dramatic scale-up of global action to cut methane emissions from the waste sector. LOW-Methane will bring together a broad consortium to work with 40 subnational jurisdictions and their national government counterparts to unlock $10 billion to deliver at least 1 million metric tons of annual waste sector methane reductions well before 2030.

WHO:

Opening remarks:

  • John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
  • MC: Ani Dasgupta, CEO, World Resources Institute
  • Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice President, European Commission
  • Ilan Goldfajn, President, Inter-American Development Bank
  • Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group / Under2 Coalition

Panelists:

National and Subnational Action on Waste Methane

  • Moderator: Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
  • Eduardo Paes, Mayor, Rio de Janeiro (TBC)
  • Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Nigeria
  • Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor, Lagos, Nigeria
  • Claudio Orrego, Governor, Santiago, Chile
  • Miguel Ceara Hatton, Minister of Environment, Dominican Republic

Supporting Efforts to Lower Organic Waste Methane

  • Moderator: Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
  • Marcelo Mena, CEO, Global Methane Hub
  • Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40
  • Jon Creyts, CEO, RMI
  • Antonia Gawel, Director, Sustainability & Partnerships, Google (tbc)
  • Carlos Silva Filho, President, International Solid Waste Association

Enteric Fermentation Research & Development Accelerator at the Panel on Accelerating Methane Mitigation in Key Sectors

WHEN: Saturday, Dec 2nd, 17:45 – 18:45 Local time (Dubai) / Saturday, Dec 2nd, 8:45am EST

WHERE: Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum, Expo City Dubai

Description: During a plenary event hosted at the Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum, the Global Methane Hub will discuss the recently announced Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind $200 million funding initiative in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, Danone, High Tide Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and more. The Accelerator funds research and develops solutions on livestock methane emissions reduction such as special feed additives, breeding, vaccine development, and affordable ways to measure methane, as well as changing the microorganisms in the animals’ stomachs.

WHO:

  • Marcelo Mena – Global Methane Hub, CEO
  • Hayden Montgomery – Global Methane Hub, Agriculture Program Director
  • Andrew Steer – Bezos Earth Fund, CEO

Collaboration for Subnational Leadership on Zero Waste Cities: The Methane Mitigation Challenge

WHEN: Saturday, Dec 2nd, 17:15 to 18:30 Local time (Dubai) /Saturday, Dec 2nd, 8:15am EST
WHERE: Waste and Resources Pavilion, COP28
Description: Join us for an engaging event co-hosted by the Global Methane Hub and C40, a global network of nearly 100 mayors from leading cities worldwide united in taking action to combat the climate crisis. Subnational leaders will address methane mitigation challenges, aiming to foster collaboration on the path to creating zero-waste cities.

WHO:

Speakers:

  • Cassie Sutherland, Managing Director, Climate Solutions and Networks, C40
  • Stephane Germaine, President, GHGSat

Panelists:

  • Claudio Orrego, Santiago Governo, Chile
  • Mathieu Tolian, Climate VP, Veolia
  • Allison Bender, Executive Director, CCAP/Reciclo organicos
  • Shibu K. Nair, GAIA Asia Pacific Regional Organics Coordinator
  • Adrian Fernandez, CEO, ICM

Financing Waste Sector’s Climate Solutions: Innovative Approaches

WHEN: Monday, Dec 4th, 14:00 to 15:30 Local time (Dubai) / Monday, Dec 4th, 5:00am EST
WHERE: Waste and Resources Pavilion, COP28
DESCRIPTION: Join us for a discussion of impactful financial strategies designed to combat climate challenges in the waste sector. This high-profile gathering will showcase presentations and a power-packed panel discussion, featuring leading experts on climate from across diverse sectors.

WHO:

Speakers

  • Rick Duke – State Department, Deputy Special Envoy for Climate US
  • Graham Watkins – Head of the Climate Change Division, IDB.

Panelists

  • Marcelo Mena – Global Methane Hub CEO
  • Catherine Stewart – Environment Climate Canada, Ambassador for Climate Change (TBC)
  • Jiao Tang, Chief Operating Officer, Catalytic Finance Foundation
  • Gerardo Canales, Methane Community of Practice

Environmental Justice and Methane Reduction at a Crossroads – How can we ensure a fair, just, and sustainable implementation of solutions?

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec 5th, 14.30 to 16:00 Local time (Dubai) / Tuesday, Dec 5th, 5:30am EST

WHERE: Waste and Resources Pavilion, COP28

DESCRIPTION: Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of environmental justice and methane reduction for a sustainable future and a conversation on how we can drive equitable and sustainable implementation of these critical solutions.

WHO:

Speakers:

  • Christie Keith, GAIA’s International Coordinator and GAIA US Executive Director

Panelists:

  • Carolina Urmeneta – Global Methane Hub, Program Director for Waste & Circular Economy
  • Ana Maria Majano, LEDS LAC.
  • Thippeswamy Sanjeevaiah (Waste Pickers rep) and Ramakrishna Anil Kumar (Composting Program Coordinator, translator).
  • Tamlynn Fleetwood, Urban Future Centre (UFC) at DUT.
  • Maria Fernanda Soliz Torres, Alianza Basura Cero Ecuador (ABCE)

No Time to Waste: The Role of the Waste Sector in Achieving the Global South Methane Mitigation

WHEN: Friday, Dec 8th, 16:30 to 17:30 Local time (Dubai) /Friday, Dec 8th, 7:30am EST

WHERE: Waste and Resources Pavilion, COP28

DESCRIPTION: Join us for an exploration into the pivotal opportunity and role of the waste sector in methane reduction. In this gathering, we will shed light on the indispensable contributions of the waste sector to Global South methane mitigation.

WHO:

Speakers:

  • Andriannah Mb – UN Climate Champion Waste Manager
  • Manjyot Ahluwalia – Global Methane Hub, Asia Regional Lead

Panelists

  • Chandra Bhushan – Iforest, Founder-CEO
  • Koyel Mandal, Chief of Programs, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation
  • Jinsun Roh, Methane Program Lead, Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC)

Methane Data to Action: How Satellites Will Change the Face of Methane Mitigation

WHEN: Friday, Dec 8th, 17:00 Local time (Dubai) / Friday, Dec 8th, 8:00am EST

WHERE: US Center

DESCRIPTION: Satellite data reveals as many as 70% of methane emissions are underreported. New satellites and monitoring systems such as the UNEP International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) Methane Alert Response System, which can efficiently detect oil and gas leaks, are pivotal to reducing methane. By improving emissions detection capabilities we can enable organizations and governments to better understand where emissions are occurring and to take collective action to reduce emissions on a global scale. This discussion focuses on challenges in translating data into action for immediate methane reduction, ensuring transparency in mitigation efforts. The Data for Methane Action Campaign aims to secure increased funding to rapidly address leaks, planning transformative data applications and seeking collaboration with philanthropies and the private sector. COP28 announces substantial funding, with the Global Methane Hub aiming to raise $300 million by COP29 for methane-related initiatives, recognizing its importance in the climate change narrative.

WHO:

  • Rick Duke, Deputy Special Presidential Envoy on Climate
  • Mohamed Alimou Sultan, Global Methane Hub, Regional Lead Africa
  • Kenzie Huffman, Carbon Mapper, Director of Strategy and Partnerships
  • Mark Brownstein, Senior Vice President, Energy Transition, Environmental Defense Fund
  • Ilse Aben, SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Senior Scientist
  • Anthony Nakache, Google.org

Food Banking Impact on Methane Mitigation: Food Prevention, Recovery and Distribution Opportunities

WHEN: Sunday, Dec 10th, 11:30 to 12:30 Local time (Dubai) / Sunday, Dec 10th, 2:30am EST

WHERE: Waste and Resources Pavilion, COP28

DESCRIPTION: Join us in uncovering the connection of food banking and methane mitigation. Delve into the role food prevention, recovery, and distribution plays in combating methane emissions.

WHO:

Speakers

  • Lisa Moon – Global Footprint Network, CEO
  • Dana Gunders – ReFED, CEO
  • Marcelo Mena – Global Methane Hub, CEO

Panelists

  • Mariana Jimenez, Executive Director, BAMX, Mexico
  • Daniela Acuña, Deputy Director in the Bureau of Agricultural Studies and Policies, Ministry of Agriculture, Chile
  • Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & MD, GCC, DP World.
  • Christopher Adamo, VP, Public Affairs & Regenerative Ag Policy Danone (TBC)
  • Peter Defranceschi, Head of European Office, ICLEI (TBC)

MEDIA CONTACT:

Johanna Hernandez | [email protected] | (929) 866-0602

Maria Landron | [email protected] | (561) 313-2584

ABOUT THE GLOBAL METHANE HUB

The Global Methane Hub organizes the field of philanthropists, experts, nonprofits, and government organizations to ensure we unite around a strategy to maximize methane reductions. We have raised over $200 million in pooled funds from more than 20 of the largest climate philanthropies to accelerate methane mitigation across the globe. Visit our website to learn more about organizations that supported the commitment.