Dive Brief:

• The World Biogas Association (WBA) has officially launched at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change COP22 in Morocco this week. The organization will focus on supporting the growth of anaerobic digestion and biogas projects that help meet UN sustainability targets.
• David Newman, former president of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), is the new president of WBA. Representatives of the American Biogas Council, HRS Heat Exchangers, the Italian Compost and Biogas Consortium and the UK's Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association are also among the founding members.
• WBA is open to companies, associations, universities, professionals and any other organizations working on biogas projects.

Dive Insight:

As UN members meet to discuss the future of climate change mitigation — amid some fear and skepticism about what role the US will play in environmental issues next year — the WBA sees an opportunity for biogas projects to help. The organization says its industry is already contributing to nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which member countries are trying to reach by 2030. On a global level, the WBA's waste management priorities include ensuring basic sanitation in developing countries, biosolid stabilization for agricultural applications and diverting organic waste from landfills.

"We are part of the Circular Economy, recovering energy and nutrients otherwise lost. We are part of the Bio Economy, delivering feedstocks to potential new industries, through Green Chemistry. We are part of the emancipation of communities detached from electric and gas grids, giving them energy autonomy. We are an ingredient of sustainability, delivering nutrients and renewable energy to the planet. And we have no time to lose to make this happen on a global scale," said President David Newman in a statement.

Expanding anaerobic digestion capacity is considered a key part of meeting federal and local organic waste diversion goals in the U.S. as well. While new projects continue to open throughout the country, some in the industry feel that this isn't happening fast enough and more could be done to support the expansion of processing infrastructure. By bringing a global perspective on what is working elsewhere, WBA may have the ability to play a role in accelerating this growth.