During Climate Week NYC on September 26 at Columbia University, the event gathered environmental experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to address waste management innovations aimed at reducing methane emissions and tackling the plastic crisis. In partnership with the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, Global Methane Hub, and the United Nations, the event emphasized the crucial role of waste pickers in reclaiming recyclable materials and promoting sustainable waste practices. Discussions highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of zero-waste systems, including job creation, cost savings, and renewable energy generation from methane emissions.
Speakers included:
Steven Cohen, Professor at Columbia (SIPA)
Gonzalo Muñoz, Co-founder of Ambition Loop
Pamela Treviño Contla, Researcher at Columbia (SIPA),
Diana M. Rodriguez V, Senior Waste Policy Associate at CCAP
Barbra Weber, International Alliance of Waste Pickers
Christian Kaufholz, WEF Global Plastic Action Partnership
Constanza Gómez, Co-founder of Sortile
Idrissa Diatta, Project manager of Sonaged
Kara Napolitano, Education Director at SMR/Balcones Recycling in Brooklyn, NY
