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Biogas key to tackling global methane emissions – C40 Cities

With 80 percent of all global wastewater discharged not currently being recycled through anaerobic digestion (AD), biogas is a key tool for cities in tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions participants at the UK AD & Biogas and World Biogas Expo were told.

Amrita Sinha Kataria, Manager Solid Waste Network, C40. Now in its tenth year, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group connects over 80 of the world’s largest cities representing over 600 million people and 25 percent of the global economy (photo courtesy ADBA). Amrita Sinha Kataria, Manager Solid Waste Network, C40. Now in its tenth year, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group connects over 80 of the world's largest cities representing over 600 million people and 25 percent of the global economy (photo courtesy ADBA).

C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change, has described biogas as key to tackling global methane emissions at the recently concluded UK AD & Biogas and World Biogas Expo at the NEC in Birmingham.

There is an urgent challenge around climate change meaning that cities matter more than ever – they are on the frontline of climate change, but also most vulnerable to its impacts. Biogas is one of the main tools in tackling methane emissions, a key source of greenhouse gas emissions in global cities, said Amrita Sinha Kataria, Manager of the Sustainable Solid Waste Systems Network at C40 Cities.

Kataria pointed out that with 80 percent of all global wastewater discharged not currently being recycled through anaerobic digestion (AD), there is still a huge gap in policy commitment from national governments with regard to meeting the 2°C decarbonisation target set as part of the Paris Agreement.

The event, which is focused around how biogas can help to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also featured an opening keynote presentation from Professor Jerry Murphy, Task Leader in Biogas Energy at the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Professor Murphy examined the principal areas where AD can make a key contribution to meeting climate change targets (electricity, heat, and transport), and highlighted that six European gas grids have now committed to 100 percent green gas.

Membership of the WBA has doubled since we were founded last year, said Laura Baldussi, Membership Manager for WBA.
Membership of the WBA has doubled since we were founded last year, said Laura Baldussi, Membership Manager for WBA. Membership of the WBA has doubled since we were founded last year, said Laura Baldussi, Membership Manager for WBA.

David Newman, President of the recently formed World Biogas Association (WBA), co-organisers of the event also announced at the show the launch of three new WBA reports on the contribution that biogas can make to meeting the UN SDGs, tackling climate change, and improving air quality respectively.

Only 7 percent of materials used in the global economy are currently being recycled or reused, and with waste management one of the biggest costs to municipal bodies, biogas offers a great way to reduce emissions whilst improving the quality of life in cities, said Newman.

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