Isometric has certified the Landfill Methane Flaring and Utilization Protocol, the first protocol Isometric published in the superpollutants category. This protocol outlines requirements and procedures for projects that capture and destroy methane from landfill sites before it reaches the atmosphere.
Methane is a highly potent superpollutant that has caused approximately 30% of global warming to date. Over a 100-year period, one tonne of methane has the same impact on global warming as 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Landfills are a major source of these emissions: every year, an amount of methane equivalent to more than a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as organic waste decomposes in landfill sites.
Certification follows a public consultation that included feedback from buyers, suppliers, and leading academics. Full details on the evolution of the protocol and how Isometric addressed feedback from the consultation are available in the changelog and public consultation summary.
Landfill methane reduction projects install and operate gas collection systems that capture landfill gas produced as organic waste decomposes in anaerobic, or low-oxygen, conditions. The collected gas can then be used to generate electricity or heat, or destroyed through high-efficiency flaring. In both cases, the methane is oxidized to carbon dioxide, which significantly reduces its negative climate impact.
The Landfill Methane Flaring and Utilization Protocol sets out a detailed approach to monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). Projects must directly measure how much methane they capture and destroy, robustly assess the efficiency of their capture system, and account for all emissions produced by the project and the amount of methane that would have naturally oxidized without the project.
Starting in 2031, the protocol applies an annual downward adjustment to baseline emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism. This ensures increased mitigation ambition over time and safeguards against over-crediting. All projects must undergo independent third-party validation and verification, with core quantification data made publicly available on the Isometric Registry.
Jodi Manning, CEO of Cool Effect, a non-profit supporting landfill methane reduction projects, said:
"Reducing methane emissions is one of the most urgent near-term climate solutions. The launch of Isometric's first superpollutant protocol brings scientific rigor and transparency to landfill methane reduction, helping to unlock the climate impact these projects deliver."
This protocol was developed through collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and reviewers from Isometric’s independent Science Network of more than 400 academic experts.
