Measuring, mapping and mitigating global waste methane emissions
Today in Dubai at COP28, WasteMAP has launched to comprehensively track methane from waste sites around the world, and enable direct practical action to reduce emissions from this potent greenhouse gas.
RMI calls methane reduction the top target at COP28. Methane is responsible for 30% of global warming since pre-industrail times, and by some estimates 60% of methane generated by food waste in landfills is released into the atmosphere rather than being captured. WasteMAP is exactly designed to drive waste diversion and landfill gas capture to reduce methane emissions, and make a key contribution to rapidly avert climate changes.
Earth Genome worked closely with RMI to organize an unprecedented variety of methane and waste site emissions data in a single data API, develop a cohesive user experience to understand all aspects of this information whether from a national or local perspective, and integrate resources to act on this information. A thousand and one design and technical decisions made together as a team have come together in a clear way for anyone to understand the state of waste methane on a global and local level.
Data has been drawn from every available source: modeled emissions, self reported national numbers, satellite measurements, and citizen monitoring. The availability of open data makes this possible, including data from our other efforts like waste site identification via Global Plastic Watch and emissions calculations via Climate TRACE.
A critical resource for action is the decision support tool (DST) where the emission reduction results of waste management choices can be interactively tested. The DST is an adaptation of the Solid Waste Emissions Estimation Tool, or SWEET, which is a tool for cities to model methane and other pollutants from waste sites. SWEET is implemented in Excel — which is stupendous modeling work. It was exciting to make it even more accessible and bring this to a web based experience driven by an API.
Working alongside RMI for the first time was an excellent experience. We took a joint learning approach, to understand how a powerhouse research and policy organization can deliver amazing user experience. They’ve been wonderfully meticulous in working through the data and translating requirements into the experience. We look forward to plotting the next stages of WasteMAP, and exploring other opportunities to transform research into action through digital tools.
Please take WasteMAP through its paces and share feedback on your experience with us.
