By Fatima Saka
Climate advocates, researchers and local government representatives have urged world leaders and climate financiers at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to redirect investments from waste incineration projects towards waste prevention, recycling, reuse and composting as more sustainable approaches to tackling climate change.
The experts warned that expanding waste-to-energy incineration could expose communities to harmful pollution, create costly infrastructure obligations and undermine efforts to develop locally driven waste management systems.
The call was made at a press conference titled “Zero Waste COP – Incinerators Out. Zero Waste In,” held on November 11 in Antalya, Türkiye, where participants stressed that effective climate action must address waste generation at its source rather than rely on disposal technologies.
Mariel Vilella, Climate Programme Director at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), said zero-waste strategies could deliver measurable climate benefits when they prioritise waste prevention, reuse and composting.
She maintained that building more infrastructure to burn or dispose of waste would not address the underlying causes of the waste crisis.
According to her, preventing waste, expanding reuse systems and composting organic materials are practical solutions capable of reducing emissions while protecting communities.
On the contribution of plastics to climate change, Mohamed Kamal, Coordinator of the Climate Action Network Arab World (CANAW), said plastic production remained closely linked to fossil fuels, with emissions generated throughout its lifecycle.
He called for reducing plastic production and expanding reuse systems, stressing that climate strategies would remain incomplete without addressing the growing production of plastics.
Similarly, Executive Director of Green Knowledge Foundation, Weyinmi Okotie, raised concerns over the increasing promotion of waste-to-energy incineration across Africa.
Okotie cited a new GAIA Africa report examining 15 incineration projects and proposals across 10 African countries, questioning their economic viability and long-term environmental implications.
She warned that incineration could lock municipalities into expensive infrastructure, expose residents to harmful pollution and divert resources from more inclusive waste management alternatives.
Okotie stressed that African countries needed solutions tailored to their actual waste management challenges rather than costly technologies capable of creating additional environmental and financial burdens.
Also speaking, Jacob Johnson Attakpah, Zero Waste Director of the Green Africa Youth Organisation, identified unequal access to climate finance as a major obstacle to advancing zero-waste initiatives.
He called on governments and international climate financiers to correct existing funding imbalances by making climate finance accessible to communities and cities already implementing sustainable waste management solutions.
Meanwhile, Shahriar Hossain, representing the Government of Bangladesh, emphasised the importance of local governments in delivering practical climate solutions.
He noted that although cities were on the frontline of the waste and climate crises, they also had significant potential to drive change through effective policies and locally led interventions.
Hossain called for stronger political support, consistent public investment and enabling policies to help cities establish and expand zero-waste systems.
The press conference, moderated by Yogi Tujuliarto of CNN Indonesia, underscored the need for governments to translate climate commitments into concrete implementation through policies and financing that prioritise waste prevention over disposal.
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The advocates maintained that tackling the climate impact of waste required a fundamental shift away from incineration and towards systems that conserve resources, reduce pollution and protect communities.
GAIA is a global network working towards a just, zero-waste world where resources are conserved and communities are protected from pollution and harmful waste management practices.
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