COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan elevated the profile of methane, and the importance of its mitigation, marking a significant turning point within global climate action. For CTP, whose passion centers on driving innovative solutions to reduce methane emissions, this aspect of the conference was especially invigorating.
From the numerous events focused on methane to groundbreaking declarations and enhanced financing commitments, the urgency around methane reduction gained significant attention. A historic moment was when more than 30 countries, representing nearly half of global methane emissions from organic waste, signed the COP29 Presidency’s Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste. This historic declaration emphasizes prevention, data collection, policy strengthening, and partnerships to address methane emissions from waste—a sector responsible for nearly 20% of anthropogenic methane emissions.
Our Team's Contributions
This year, our team’s presence at COP29 highlighted our commitment to advancing climate solutions through innovation and collaboration. A key moment was the panel we organized at the Israeli Pavilion, which focused on sustainable waste management and the intersection of policy, technology, and community engagement.
CTP Panel Event: Innovations in Short Lived Climate Pollutants: Barriers and Opportunities
Beyond the panel event we led, our team was invited to share insights at several events. Our CEO & Founder Rachel Barr participated in a panel at the Asian Climate Solutions Summit to discuss leveraging technology and economic opportunities in the waste and agriculture sectors, and contributed to live discussions at the We Don’t Have Time Climate Hub, emphasizing the role of the private sector in driving climate action. Media engagements, such as an interview with Sky News Arabia, further amplified key updates and perspectives from the conference. Additionally, our Lead Sustainability Analyst, Moriah Lavey, spoke on a panel about plastic waste in marine environments at the International Solid Waste Association’s Waste and Resources Pavilion.
Our active participation across these platforms reflects the growing recognition of our expertise and the importance of the solutions we are championing.
CTP at the High Level Presidency Event on Methane Reduction from Organic Waste
Key Takeaways from COP29
Rising Ambition: With 159 countries now part of the Global Methane Pledge, methane is finally getting the attention it deserves. Countries are integrating methane targets into their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and developing national action plans.
Mobilizing Finance: Governments and philanthropies committed over $500 million in new grant funding at COP29, while financial institutions announced billions more in project investments to accelerate methane mitigation.
Advancing Data: Breakthroughs in methane measurement, including satellite-based monitoring, are unlocking new opportunities for targeted action.
Moving Forward
Conversations at COP29 affirmed our belief that collaboration is key to tackling methane emissions. We were inspired by the diverse voices coming together to share knowledge, finance solutions, and create scalable innovations.
As we return from Baku, we carry a renewed sense of hope and determination. Methane mitigation is essential to achieving 1.5°C targets, and we’re committed to being at the forefront of this critical work. Now we’re working on using that momentum to fuel meaningful climate action in the year ahead.
Stay tuned for updates on our ongoing efforts to drive solutions at the intersection of methane, waste, and food systems.