Waste Management Strategies and Plans, Climate Change and Impact Assessment
Theme leader: Thomas Fischer (PhD), Professor and Leader of Research Cluster ‘People, Space and Place’, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
Theme description
Despite some considerable progress made over the past few decades, solid waste continues to contribute to about 2% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally (in comparison, air traffic contributes with slightly over 1.5%, ship and rail with just under 2.5 % of all GHG emissions) . This is mainly caused by methane emissions emanating from landfill, representing about 30% of all methane emissions globally. Whilst 2% may not appear large, reducing GHG from waste has been said to be relatively straightforward, particularly by avoiding landfill. Furthermore, waste could also partly contribute to bringing down the GHG share of e.g. the electricity and heat sector, which currently stands at around 25% globally. In this context, waste management strategies and plans (WMSP) may set the scene for GHG emission reductions. In the European Union and elsewhere, WMSPs are often subjected to strategic environmental assessment (SEA). SEA may thus have an important role to play in identifying waste management options that contribute to climate change mitigation.
Sessions
Session 1: Waste management strategies, SEA and climate change in the UK and other developed countries
Session Format - A presentation session with opportunities for delegates to ask questions and discuss the issues raised with presenters, particularly in the light of experiences in other countries.
Name of presenters
(1) Thomas B. Fischer (Liverpool University, UK): Municipal waste management strategies, strategic environmental assessment and the consideration of climate change in England
(2) David Hall (Golder Associates, UK): Examining and assessing GHG emission from Waste Management activities using the Environment Agency’s WRATE model
Expected outcomes
Obtain a better understanding of SEA and climate change consideration in municipal waste management planning in the UK and other developed countries
Session 2: Waste management, climate change and SEA in India and other emerging economies
Session Format – An open, discussion based session with an initiating paper from India.
(1) Ponnusamy Devaraj (Pondicherry University, India): Waste management problems in small cities and future strategies
Expected outcomes
Obtain a better understanding of impact assessment, climate change and municipal waste management planning in India and other emerging economies