The Global Methane Initiative (GMI) Policymaker Framework for Addressing Methane Emissions (the Framework) is designed to help energy and environmental policymakers address methane emissions systematically to accelerate progress toward national or subnational methane emissions reduction goals. The Framework depicts a step-by-step process for developing and implementing policies and programs to measure and reduce methane emissions economy-wide or in specific methane-emitting sectors, such as oil and gas, coal, and biogas. It provides links to helpful resources from GMI and other organizations that can help policymakers implement each step.

The Framework is available on the Policymaker Framework webpage. 

The Risk Analysis Checklist for Biogas Projects (as well as the supporting information that follows) provides “best practices” for designing, implementing, and evaluating anaerobic digestion (AD)/biogas project plans. This checklist is intended to help project developers, government agencies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders assess the feasibility of a proposed AD/biogas project and ensure the project addresses critical technical and financial aspects.

La Lista de Verificación de Análisis de Riesgos para Proyectos de Biogás (así como la información complementaria que se incluye a continuación) proporciona las mejores prácticas para el diseño, la implementación y la evaluación de planes de proyectos de digestión anaeróbica (DA)/biogás. Esta lista de verificación tiene como objetivo ayudar a los desarrolladores de proyectos, organismos gubernamentales, instituciones financieras y otras partes interesadas a evaluar la viabilidad de un proyecto de DA/biogás propuesto y garantizar que el proyecto aborde los aspectos técnicos y financieros críticos.

Cities often face challenges in obtaining financing for organic waste management projects that mitigate methane emissions and improve public health, such as landfill gas capture, composting, and anaerobic digestion projects. The new Global Methane Initiative (GMI) Financial Readiness Framework for Organic Waste Management, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S EPA), provides high-level practical guidance to help national and subnational governments, as well as private sector project developers and other stakeholders, understand the process for financing organic waste management projects, mitigate potential investment risks, and improve the bankability of projects.

Speakers:
Klara Zimmerman, U.S. EPA
Jiao Tang & Cristina Clopatofsky, Catalytic Finance Foundation
Magda Correal, Inter-American Development Bank
Gerardo Canales, ImplementaSur

Resources:

• Presentation
• Questions & Answers
• Transcript

This fact sheet provides an overview of methane emissions generated in both wastewater collection systems and at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Topics include wastewater collection systems, conventional activated sludge (CAS) treatment systems, aerobic/aerated lagoon treatment systems, and anaerobic lagoon treatment systems. Biosolids management and opportunities for methane mitigation and use are also described.

The U.S. government provided key leadership to reduce barriers to the recovery and use of methane as a valuable energy source. The 2024 Accomplishments Report summarizes the contributions of the U.S. government in promoting methane capture and use projects and reducing emissions of methane internationally. Sector-specific activity highlights are also featured.

Delterra, an environmental non-profit organization based in the United States (U.S.), partnered with regional environmental agencies and local waste management facilities in Bali, Indonesia, to increase source separation of waste measures that divert organic waste and recyclable materials from landfills, and in turn, reduce methane emissions. The goal of the project is to achieve recycling rates of 11 percent by 2025 and is projected to reduce emissions by 3,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) by 2026.

Presentation from the March 2025 GMI Biogas Subcommittee meeting in Brasilia, Brazil.

In 2024, the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) Biogas Subcommittee hosted a four-part workshop series: Mobilizing Methane Action at Open Dumpsites and Landfills. This workshop series was developed in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the International Solid Waste Association, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and focused on exploring policies, technologies, and tools and resources, aimed at reducing methane emissions from municipal solid waste. The intended audience of the series included national and subnational decision-makers and policymakers, waste professionals, waste facility operators, project developers, international development professionals, financial institutions interested in funding waste methane mitigation projects, and students and academics.

First workshop: 
Global Opportunities and Strategies for Addressing Landfill Methane
23 January 2024

Speakers discussed mitigating methane emissions from open dumpsites and landfills and reviewed case studies that highlight effective initiatives to reduce methane emissions. Participants gained insights into the urgency for action and the global potential associated with the reduction of methane emissions from landfills, such as environmental and health co-benefits. The workshop also explored the practical dimensions of mitigating methane at dumpsites, emphasizing key phases essential for successful projects.

Speakers

• Moderator: Matt Hamilton, Manager, Waste Sector GHG Reduction, Environment and Climate Change Canada, GMI Biogas Subcommittee Co-Chair
• Aditi Ramola, Technical Director at the International Solid Waste Association
• James Law, Vice President at SCS Engineers

Second workshop: 
Methane Mitigation Project Phases, Practical Solutions, and GHG Emission Quantification|
5 March 2024

Speakers discussed the practical dimensions of methane mitigation at large open dumpsites, focusing on the key phases of successful methane mitigation projects, and environmental justice considerations for dumpsite closure.

Speakers

• Moderator: Matt Hamilton, Manager, Waste Sector GHG Reduction, Environment and Climate Change Canada, GMI Biogas Subcommittee Co-Chair
• Mariel Vilella, Global Climate Program Director, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
• Dr. Ali R. Abedini, President, Methane Expert Engineering  

Third workshop: 
Understanding Your Waste Stream to Develop Methane Reduction Strategies
16 May 2024

Speakers focused on waste characterization as a means to mitigate methane emissions. In Part 1, participants gained insights into the GMI Waste Characterization Handbook: Understanding Municipal Waste Streams to Develop Data-Driven Methane Mitigation Strategies and the accompanying GMI Waste Characterization Tool, developed by the U.S. EPA. The Handbook provides additional recommended activities and resources to help cities best determine how to measure their waste, collect data, and make informed solid waste planning decisions that achieve methane reductions and other benefits. The tool allows users to analyze the composition of different waste streams. Part 2 explored waste characterization in practice in Canada, in support of their inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and modeling of methane generation, and Wisconsin, to evaluate effectiveness of laws (e.g., ban on electronics landfilling), and support future initiatives such as reducing disposal of food waste in landfills.

Speakers

• Moderator: Carlos Silva Filho, President of the International Solid Waste Association
• Klara Zimmerman, Program Manager at the U.S. EPA
• Sandra Mazo-Nix, Solid Waste Senior Associate at Abt Global
• Hussein Zaki, Project Engineer at Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Casey Krausensky, Solid Waste Coordinator at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

Fourth workshop: 
Source Segregation of Waste: Key to Methane Reduction from the Waste Sector
26 June 2024

The fourth webinar focused on source segregation of waste, which plays a crucial role in mitigating methane emissions. Effective source segregation, such as separating organic from the inorganic materials in the waste stream, enables the diversion and valorization of organic waste. This practice reduces the amount of methane-generating organic material sent to disposal sites like landfills or dumps. This webinar presented several examples of source segregation of waste as part of sustainable waste management practices, with perspectives from a variety of governments and non-governmental organizations.

Speakers

• Introduction/Moderator: Patrick CoatarPeter, Environmental Policy Analyst, U.S. EPA
• Luis Vallejo, Coordinator, Waste Management and Circular Economy Project (Greci), Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (Ecuador)
• Aditi Ramola, Technical Director, ISWA
• Jeremy Douglas, Director of Global Partnerships, Delterra
• Mariano Kristoff, Project Lead, Behaviour Change, Delterra

Fact sheet that describes how GMI provides cost-free technical, policy, and programmatic methane mitigation support to Partner Countries.

Fact sheet that describes how GMI provides methane action in key industry sectors.