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- Methane’s impact in the region
Methane’s impact in the region
Methane (CH₄) is an extremely potent greenhouse gas (GHG) that significantly contributes to global warming. It has a global warming potential 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a 100-year period—and 84 times greater during the first 20 years after its release. This makes it one of the most powerful GHGs, despite its shorter atmospheric lifetime compared to CO₂. Targeted reductions in methane emissions could prevent up to 0.3°C of global warming by the 2040 [1]. This urgency is particularly relevant for Latin America and the Caribbean, a region responsible for roughly 8% of global GHG emissions [2]
For this reason, reducing methane emissions has become a critical component in the fight against climate change. According to the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), aggressively cutting methane emissions is the best and fastest opportunity for slowing warming by 2030. There is no viable path to limiting global warming to 1.5°C without addressing methane and other short-lived climate pollutants. Their rapid reduction is essential to slowing near-term warming and protecting vulnerable communities from the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Beyond its global implications, methane also has a direct impact on human rights. In Latin America, agriculture—particularly enteric fermentation in livestock—is the leading source of methane emissions. According to the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), livestock activities contribute to 55% of anthropogenic methane emissions in the region.
Landfills are the second-largest source, accounting for 26% of methane emissions. This is largely due to inadequate management of organic waste in open dumpsites, poorly controlled landfills, and informal disposal practices, which facilitate anaerobic decomposition and methane release. Fossil fuel extraction and handling, including oil and gas operations, represent a smaller share, contributing approximately 11% of the region’s anthropogenic methane emissions
Methane emissions from landfills pose serious risks to nearby communities, which are often composed of vulnerable populations. In addition to accelerating climate change, methane is a highly flammable gas that can cause explosions when it accumulates in enclosed spaces—an especially common hazard near poorly managed landfills. The buildup of gases and unstable waste piles can also trigger garbage landslides, which have caused deadly accidents in several countries. These disasters have led to deaths, displacement, and long-term health and safety risks, compromising the rights and well-being of those affected—particularly the right to a healthy environment.
Landfill
In addition to these physical hazards, methane is also a major public health concern. Methane it is a key precursor to tropospheric ozone—a harmful air pollutant that contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone. This pollutant is responsible for approximately one million premature deaths globally each year, predominantly from respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses [3]. Communities living near landfills or industrial zones are among the most affected.
Reducing and mitigating methane emissions is both possible and urgent. While some governments have begun to take action, the challenge is complex and requires coordinated efforts from multiple strategic actors. Achieving real impact demands cross-sector collaboration—from agriculture and livestock management to organic waste treatment and improved landfill operations. In fact, over 70% of methane reduction measures in the fossil fuel sector can be implemented cost-effectively [4]. Additionally, enhancing solid waste management—such as improving landfill practices and promoting composting—can significantly cut emissions, especially in regions where landfills are major methane sources.
As Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director of CEJIL, notes in Open Global Rights, addressing short-lived climate pollutants like methane is essential not only to meet climate targets, but also to protect vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean who are most affected by environmental degradation.
In this context, policy developments in Latin America offer encouraging examples of how improved waste management can support methane reduction efforts. Solutions span the entire waste cycle: at the source, reducing food waste and limiting single-use products; during collection, promoting composting and separating organic materials; and at the disposal stage, capturing landfill gas and replacing open dumps with controlled sanitary landfills. Additionally, Chile, Peru, and Colombia are advancing extended producer responsibility laws that foster a circular economy and promote industrial recycling—strategies that not only reduce the volume of waste reaching landfills but also contribute to long-term climate resilience and public health [5].
Recycling in progress
Law is a crucial tool for accelerating responses to the climate emergency. The Advisory Opinion (AO) of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), which carries authoritative legal weight under the American Convention, offers a valuable opportunity to address issues such as methane emissions. It also provides important guidance for the development of public policies aimed at reducing these emissions and protecting the human rights affected by them.
For example, the right to access environmental information, enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights, is essential for transparency and accountability. The IACHR has repeatedly affirmed that States must ensure access to public information on environmental issues that may affect people’s health and well-being. In the context of methane emissions, this includes the right of communities living near landfills to access reliable data on methane concentrations and co-pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, and particulate matter. A lack of access to such information prevents communities from taking timely preventive measures—such as evacuating in the event of explosion or landslide risks—or from being informed about the health impacts, thereby undermining their right to safety and health.
In addition, the human health impacts of methane emissions can serve as a powerful argument in court. Recognizing the direct harm caused by methane to health and well-being, the IACHR could support claims seeking greater government accountability in mitigating these risks. This could include the adoption of more ambitious public policies to reduce methane emissions and the creation of regulations that require industries to minimize their impact, especially in areas near vulnerable communities.
Ultimately, the Court’s Advisory Opinion can serve as a critical guide for States, civil society organizations, and human rights advocates in advancing more ambitious public mitigation policies. By leveraging the Court’s jurisprudence, advocates can promote methane mitigation measures that respect and uphold human rights—an essential step toward meeting international climate commitments and protecting the most vulnerable populations in Latin America.
In summary, methane is a key greenhouse gas that not only accelerates climate change but also directly affects human rights, especially in communities located near landfills and other major sources of emissions. The Advisory Opinion currently pending before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will provide a valuable legal framework for strengthening strategic litigation, advocacy, and public policy aimed at addressing the urgent challenges posed by the climate crisis. Expected to be decided and released in the coming months, it is set to provide a legal foundation for advancing strategic litigation, advocacy, and public policy—while accelerating the development and clarification of important standards to address the climate crisis from a human rights perspective.
[1] UNEP 2021: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/methane-emissions-are-driving-climate-change-heres-how-reduce-them
[2] Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. A Primer on Cutting Methane: The Best Strategy for Slowing Warming in the Decade to 2030, marzo 2024.
[3] Climate & Clean Air Coalition: https://www.ccacoalition.org/short-lived-climate-pollutants/methane?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[4] Regulating Fossil Fuel Methan Win for Latin America & the Caribbean: https://www.ccacoalition.org/news/regulating-fossil-fuel-methane-clear-win-latin-america-caribbean?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[5] Economía circular en América Latina y el Caribe: https://repositorio.cepal.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5fceda72-3fed-4ace-bb87-5688547cf2f5/content?utm_source=chatgpt.com
