As COP31 comes to Turkey, satellites reveal a landfill methane problem
- Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles released satellite data on November 7 identifying 70 methane plumes at Turkey's top 10 waste sites, with findings emerging days before COP31 begins in Antalya on November 9.
- Turkey ranks as the world's 5th-biggest methane emitter from solid waste, with emissions rising nearly 25% to around 21 million tons over the last decade, yet the nation has not joined the Global Methane Pledge .
- The Seymen landfill serving Istanbul's 16 million residents emits about 7.4 tons of methane hourly according to satellite data, though municipal operator ISTAC disputes the figures, citing temporary maintenance work and low atmospheric pressure.
- Defending its waste record, the Environment Ministry reported a national 'recovery rate' of 37.53% in 2025, up from 13% in 2017, and argued satellite measurements lack continuous data needed for accurate annual reporting.
- Carbon Mapper experts identified 'huge mitigation potential' at Turkey's largest landfills, suggesting better-designed collection systems and repairs to cracked covers could deliver disproportionate emissions reductions across the nation.
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74 Articles
At the Antalya conference, there is little determination to stop global warming; there is also a lack of money for climate adaptations of poorer countries. In one area, there is a glimmer of hope.
"A COP of Superlatives", Katharina Willinger, ARD Istanbul, on the COP31 start in Antalya
"We cannot forget that the climate agenda is an agenda for development and that the transition cannot create or develop inequalities," said diplomat André Corrêa do Lago, in the opening plenary of COP31, in Antalia, Turkey, passing the post to the president of the new conference, Murat Kurum. Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/Agência Brasil COP31 began on Monday and followed for the next two weeks. "We need to be guided by science. We need a fair transit…
Reformatorisch Dagblad
The Brazilian chairman of last year's climate summit, André Corrêa do Lago, emphasized during the opening ceremony of COP31 in Antalya how important it is to look at the effects of climate policy on people and to follow the science. "We must always keep that in mind," he urged his audience.
Noticias de Navarra
The Conference of the Parties (COP31) on climate change begins this Monday in Antalya, Turkey, with a day dedicated to the link between food, agriculture and health because of its importance in the transition to sustainable and resilient food systems, which need more funding.
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