Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 16 - A four-day regional workshop aimed at accelerating methane emission reductions from the waste sector has commenced at the headquarters of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Colombo, bringing together government officials, technical experts, and development partners from across South Asia.
The Regional Kick-off and Capacity Building Workshop on "Accelerating Waste Methane Mitigation in South Asia for Climate, Health, and Development Co-Benefits", being held from 15–18 July 2026, is jointly organized by SACEP in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies – Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (IGES-CCET), the Global Methane Hub (GMH), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and HELP-O.
The workshop was officially inaugurated by Ms. Padma Abeykoon, Additional Secretary (Environment Policy and Planning) at Sri Lanka's Ministry of Environment. Welcoming participants, SACEP Director General Mr. Norbu Wangchuk emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in tackling methane emissions, while Ms. Carolina Urmeneta, Program Director for Waste and Circular Economy at the Global Methane Hub, highlighted the growing global momentum to address methane as one of the fastest and most effective ways to slow near-term climate change.
Senior government representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are participating in the workshop alongside technical specialists and international development partners. The programme aims to strengthen national and regional capacities for reducing methane emissions from waste while promoting sustainable waste management practices that deliver climate, public health, and socio-economic benefits.
During the four-day event, participants will contribute to the preparation of a Regional Assessment Report and Roadmap for Waste Methane Mitigation in South Asia. Discussions are focusing on improving methane emission inventories, enhancing monitoring, reporting and verification systems, expanding access to climate finance, and promoting practical solutions for sustainable waste management.
A key milestone of the workshop was the formal exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SACEP and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). The agreement reaffirms both organizations' commitment to strengthening regional collaboration on sustainable waste management, methane mitigation, and broader climate action initiatives across South Asia.
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, and emissions from poorly managed municipal solid waste remain a significant contributor to global warming. Regional cooperation and improved waste management systems are widely recognized as critical measures for achieving climate targets while generating important environmental, health, and development co-benefits.
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