Wednesday, April 2, 2008
12:30-2:00pm

The World Bank has signed emission reductions purchase agreements (ERPAs) with 13 landfill gas recovery projects. Landfill gas is typically about 50% methane, which is a greenhouse gas, that has a global warming potential that is 21 times greater than carbon dioxide. Worldwide, landfills account for 12% of anthropogenic methane emissions and are the fourth largest source of non-carbon dioxide emissions.

The Bank's initial projects as well as others have started to become operational and actual emission reductions (ERs) are being verified by Designated Operational Entities (DOEs), independent auditing firms. The early results of the verifications have been that the projects have delivered less ERs than were forecast during the project development stage and presented in the Project Design Documents (PDDs).

This is a timely presentation as the number of registered landfill gas projects continues to grow. There are 65 landfill gas recovery projects registered with the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol plus an additional five that are requesting registration. Not all of the registered projects are yet operational but many are. Improved performance is important for continued interest and willingness to invest in the development of landfill gas recovery projects in developing countries. Recovery of landfill gas offers the potential to be a significant contributor to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time reduces the trend towards global warming.

Presentations

Lasse Ringius
Senior Environmental Specialist, Carbon Finance Unit
"Implications for the Bank"

Charles Peterson
Senior Environmental Specialist, FEU
"Over Expectations of Emission Reductions from Landfill Gas Recovery Projects"

Sandra Cointreau
Solid Waste Management Advisor, FEU
"Effect on Solid Waste Management Projects"

(The video of this event, after interactive media formatting, will also be available on this page.)

Supporting documentation on Solid Waste Emissions Reduction (SWER) cost recovery:

SWER Landfill Cost.xls