Preventing waste, using materials more efficiently and recovering valuable resources from waste could deliver wide-ranging benefits for countries across the globe - with major implications for their energy demand, economic competitiveness and emissions goals, according to a new IEA special report.
Launched at COP31 in Antalya today, the report was prepared at the request of COP31 President Türkiye in support of its goal to advance zero waste and circular economy approaches, key priorities under the COP31 Presidency's Action Agenda.
The report examines opportunities at the intersection of waste reduction, resource efficiency and energy systems decarbonisation. It sets out a package of actions that could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1.5 billion tonnes annually by 2035 - comparable to eliminating emissions from half of the world's car fleet. The report finds that many of these measures rely on proven technologies, but putting them into action will require a shift in how governments implement policies and how businesses design, produce and manage products, buildings and infrastructure throughout their life cycles.
The world generates around 2.6 billion tonnes of municipal waste each year - enough to blanket New York City under ten metres of waste. Its disposal, treatment and incineration account for around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, including nearly one-fifth of human-caused methane emissions, a particularly potent greenhouse gas. But the emissions impact is much larger when full value chains are accounted for, with large amounts of energy and resources consumed in producing materials that are used inefficiently and discarded before their full value potential is used.
The report highlights three high-potential areas where progress can be achieved: preventing waste through better design and more efficient use of materials; improving collection, sorting and recycling to recover valuable resources; and sustainably turning residual organic waste into energy. Together, these measures could reduce demand for energy-intensive materials such as steel and cement, help double global plastics recycling by 2035 and enable a fourfold increase in biogases production.
"The way we produce, consume and dispose of resources has far-reaching consequences not only for waste generation, but for our energy systems and our economies," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "Governments and businesses have the power to accelerate progress towards a zero waste and circular economy, creating the conditions to waste less, use resources more efficiently and make better use of the waste we do generate. As our analysis shows, progress towards these goals can bring numerous benefits, helping countries strengthen their economic competitiveness while lowering their emissions. As strategic partner to the COP31 Presidency, we are pleased to support Türkiye in bringing much-needed attention to this important opportunity."
Realising these opportunities will require more coordinated action tailored to national circumstances, the report finds. Priorities for governments include shifting incentives and progress indicators to prioritise resource efficiency, encouraging more circular product and infrastructure design and securing finance for waste collection, recycling and sustainable energy recovery. But the report emphasises that more progress is needed. Professional training focused on resource efficiency, international cooperation and better access to finance, particularly in emerging and developing economies, will also be important to turning the COP31 Presidency's ambitions into tangible progress.
