What's Happening?
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) is advocating for the exclusion of the waste-to-energy industry from discussions and policymaking at COP31, the UN Climate Change Conference scheduled from November 9 to 20, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye.
GAIA argues that the incineration industry, whose business model relies on burning waste, presents a fundamental contradiction to the goals of waste prevention and climate action. Despite the COP31 Presidency prioritizing zero waste, industry representatives like CEWEP (the European waste-to-energy lobbying association) and Kanadevia Inova (a major waste-to-energy technology provider) are listed in official side events. GAIA highlights that waste-to-energy incineration emits approximately 1.7 times more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity than coal-fired power plants, largely due to the burning of plastics derived from fossil fuels. The organization also points out that incineration destroys recyclable materials, perpetuating a linear economy rather than a circular one. GAIA's concerns extend to the financial implications, noting that incinerators are capital-intensive and often lock municipalities into long-term contracts, diverting resources from more sustainable waste management solutions.
Why It's Important?
GAIA's call to exclude the incineration industry from COP31 is significant because it challenges the narrative that waste-to-energy is a viable climate solution. If the industry's influence is not curtailed, there is a risk that climate finance and policy could be misdirected towards technologies that exacerbate rather than mitigate climate change. This could lead to substantial financial investments in infrastructure that is environmentally detrimental and economically inefficient in the long term. For communities, particularly in the Global South, this could mean increased pollution, financial burdens, and threats to livelihoods, as documented in GAIA's reports on sites in Indonesia, Nigeria, and the Philippines, where fine particulate levels near waste-burning operations were significantly above WHO guidelines. Furthermore, the promotion of incineration undermines the development of genuine zero-waste systems, such as waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and composting, which are crucial for a sustainable future and for supporting the livelihoods of waste pickers.
What's Next?
GAIA is urging the COP31 Presidency and climate finance institutions to implement several measures. These include establishing safeguards against conflicts of interest to prevent waste-burning companies from shaping the zero-waste agenda, explicitly rejecting incineration as a climate or zero-waste solution, and excluding it from climate finance mechanisms like the Global Zero Waste and Methane Fund. GAIA also advocates for prioritizing community-led solutions, ensuring meaningful participation of communities and waste pickers, and directing international climate finance towards proven zero-waste systems. The Global Week of Action to Stop Incineration, coinciding with COP31, aims to amplify these demands. The outcome of these efforts will determine whether the waste-to-energy industry maintains its presence in climate policy discussions and whether climate finance will be channeled towards incineration or genuinely sustainable waste management practices.
Beyond the Headlines
The debate surrounding waste-to-energy at COP31 touches upon deeper ethical and economic implications. Ethically, it raises questions about environmental justice, as communities often burdened by pollution are targeted for new incineration projects, potentially deepening existing inequalities. The economic aspect highlights the conflict between short-term waste disposal solutions and long-term sustainable development. Incinerators, with their high capital costs and reliance on guaranteed waste volumes, can create a lock-in effect, disincentivizing waste reduction and recycling efforts. This perpetuates a linear economic model that is incompatible with the principles of a circular economy. The influence of industry lobbyists in climate policy discussions also brings to light issues of transparency and accountability, questioning whose interests are truly being served in the global effort to combat climate change. A shift away from incineration would signify a broader commitment to holistic, community-centric, and truly sustainable waste management strategies.
