The world has achieved remarkable economic growth in the last several decades, generating significant wealth and prosperity for millions of people. However, this rapid urbanization and economic growth has also resulted in critical environmental and human health problems: rising consumption among urban populations is leading to a dramatic increase in the production of waste materials, contributing to rising costs, social disruption and environmental degradation.Currently, managing waste is one of the main challenges in the developing countries and the amount of municipal solid waste generation will nearly double worldwide by 2025. About one to two thirds of municipal solid waste generated in low and middle-income countries are not properly collected and the heap of uncollected waste are dumped or burned on the streets and vacant lands. Further, the collected waste is transported and dumped to designated sites in a more or less uncontrolled manner. Such landfills are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions, accounting for approximately 11% of estimated global methane emissions. The municipal solid waste is also a significant source of black carbon through open burning of waste its transport by outdated and polluting vehicles.
At global stage, the international community saw the conclusion of two key international agreements in 2015 to address the common challenges of the people: Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and sustainable society is, today, an imperative that requires our collective actions in each country, city and community.
Through shifting from waste management to resource management – that is, from end-of-pipe solutions to more holistic integrated approach, the resource/waste sector has a major role to play in advancing such transition to a low-carbon/resource-efficient society, and in addressing both climate and resource concerns. In this regard, there is a growing needs among developing economies and economies in transition for policies, financing, technology, infrastructure and capacity development for establishing a sustainable society.
Establishment of CCET
In its most recent decision 27/12 on Chemicals and Waste, UN Environment’s Governing Council requested to continue to facilitate cooperation and coordination across international efforts focusing on waste prevention, minimization and management. In addition, UN Environment’s Governing Council decisions of 25/8 and 26/3 calling on to support national implementation of integrated waste management and to the Rio +20 call for the development of comprehensive national and local waste management strategies, policies, laws and regulations (paragraph 218 of the outcome document “The Future we Want”).
In this context, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), together with the UN Environment have launched a joint partnership initiative – the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET) – on the side-lines of the twentieth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP 20) held in Lima, Peru, in December 2014, in order to assist countries, regions and cities in developing waste management system that can minimize negative health and environmental impacts and in enabling the transition to resource-efficient sustainable societies.
To this end, CCET delivers various projects to enhance waste management capacity in partner countries and cities, especially within rapidly growing nations, through dissemination/mainstreaming of the climate-conscious waste management, holistic waste management, and the 3R policy; development of knowledge products; and delivering capacity development program.
Collaboration with International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC)
CCET was founded with the aim of also enhancing collaboration between IGES and the UN Environment, and International Environmental Technology Centre (UN Environment-IETC). Accordingly, CCET works in collaboration with IETC in support of its work and expanding its reach and delivery in global society, including carrying out the organization’s mandate in promoting the application of environmentally sound technologies and improving waste management in developing countries and countries in transition.
In this regard, CCET currently provides expertise to support the development of national, regional and city waste management strategies and action plans with pilot demonstrations that can be replicated and up-scaled, develops knowledge products for assisting decision-makings and implementation of waste management services, and engages professional communities and wider public for enhancing network and outreach.
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
IGES is a research institute based in Hayama, Japan which conducts practical, innovative, and strategic policy research towards realization of sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific and the globe. Founded in 1998, IGES actively engages in the field of sustainable consumption and production, including waste management, with a demonstrated history of advancing strategic research and cooperation on reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) policies in the region.
UN Environment (United Nations Environment Programme)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UN Environment work encompasses:
- Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends
- Developing international and national environmental instruments
- Strengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment
Mission"To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations."
UN Environment International Environmental Technology
Centre (UN Environment-IETC)
The International Environmental Technology Centre assists countries to identify and implement technological solutions to environmental challenges.
UN Environment’s International Environmental Technology Centre promotes the application of environmentally sound technologies. In order to realize this vision, we provide technical and advisory support to national and local governments to enhance their use of environmentally sound strategies and approaches. We also implement in-country demonstration projects using innovative methods and technologies to reduce the impact of climate change, increase resilience, create jobs and improve human well-being. We work with universities to develop graduate level academic curricula through tailor-made training courses and learning opportunities around the world as well as organizing public outreach activities, expert groups and policy dialogues.
Mission"To serve as a global centre of excellence on environmentally sound technologies with a focus on waste management."
All managerial decisions on CCET activities are directed through CCET’s joint Steering Committee, an interagency body comprised of government officials, waste management experts and development professionals, which meets twice a year to evaluate progress and recommend technical and operational actions in line with a programme of continuous improvement.
Current CCET Steering Committee members
Director, International Strategy Division, Global Environmental Bureau
Ministry of Environment, Japan
Director, Economy Division
United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)
Director, International Environment Technology Centre (IETC)
United Nations Environmental Programme (UN Environment)
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Professor / Head, Centre for Research in Waste Management
Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya
Environmental Management Centre LLP
CCET draws on the knowledge and expertise of a number of
affiliated staff to advance its delivery of projects and initiatives
Mr. Kazunobu ONOGAWADirector
Mr. Onogawa joined IGES in 2012 as a senior fellow. Before joining IGES, he was the Director of United Nations Center for Regional Development (UNCRD) between 2002 and 2011, and also served for IGES as a trustee member over this period. After graduation from Kyoto University in 1972 reading Environmental Engineering, he joined newly established Environment Agency of Japanese Government (current Ministry of the Environment, MOEJ) and worked for policy development for water quality management, EIA, transport management as well as global environmental issues, and environmental research management of national research institutes in Japan. Over these period he had worked for MOEJ, UNEP (Bangkok), IIASA (Vienna), NIES, Regional Environment Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC, Budapest) in addition to UNCRD.
Dr. Premakumara Jagath DICKELLA GAMARALALAGEProgramme Manager/Senior Policy Researcher
Dr. Premakumara is a development planner, specialising in environmental planning and sustainable urban development. He obtained his PhD degree on Management Development from the Nihon Fukushi University. After serving as a postdoctoral fellow at the Meijo Asian Center, Meijo University, he started working for IGES, Kitakyushu Urban Centre in Japan. At the Kitakyushu Urban Centre, he focused on participatory planning and community-based development in establishing sustainable cities. Currently, he works as a Programme Manager of the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET) and provides technical support for developing countries in improving their waste management in more integrated manner to contribute in achieving pollution free, resource efficient and sustainable societies in Asia and the Pacific.
Mr. Ran YAGASAPolicy Researcher
Ran Yagasa joined IGES as a staff of CCET in July 2015. Currently, he is generally responsible for coordinating CCET operations as well as the waste management strategy development projects in Cambodia and Maldives. Before joining IGES, he received MA in Public Management and Policy Analysis from the International University of Japan in 2015, and has worked in business sector (MICE industry) from 2007 to 2013.
Dr. Rajeev Kumar SINGHResearcher
Dr. Rajeev holds a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Studies from University of Tsukuba. He obtained his Master’s degree in waste management from University of Tsukuba. He joined IGES in 2017. Prior to IGES, he has experience of working as contract researcher at NIAES (NARO) and as consultant at IGES. Currently at IGES, his focus is to work for development of national and regional level waste management strategies in developing countries in Asia, help countries and cities with networking and capacity building to learn and expand the activities related to proper waste management in the Asian regions.
Mr. Yoshinori MORITAVisiting Researcher
Ms. Miki INOUEAssistant