World Environment Day Webinar: How better waste management can improve soil health and combat desertification

Following the publication of the Global Waste Management Outlook in 2015, the world has faced transformative events, including a global pandemic, leading to increased population, consumption, and waste generation. This session will discuss the findings from the newly released GWMO 2024, in collaboration with UNEP, highlighting potential opportunities for the waste management sector to improve soil health and combat desertification. Our disrupted organic matter cycle results in organic waste ending up in landfills, generating leachate and methane, which contribute to climate change and soil depletion. Emphasizing the circularity of organic waste is crucial for climate change adaptation, methane mitigation, and achieving the Paris climate goals. Proven technologies like source separation, composting, and biogas generation can curb methane emissions and convert waste into valuable resources. Cities can use compost and digestate for landscaping, urban greening, and gardening to improve soil health, mitigate methane emissions, and enhance resilience. In agriculture, high-quality compost and digestate can boost food security and combat desertification by improving soil health. This session will explore the potential of organic waste as a solution for climate adaptation and mitigation, job creation, and resilience enhancement, while addressing the challenges involved.