The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) officially launched the Community of Practice on Methane Emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean (COEMLAC), a regional platform aimed at strengthening technical cooperation and promoting concrete solutions for methane emissions mitigation in the energy sector.
COEMLAC was created in response to needs expressed by Ministries and Secretariats of Energy across the region, which have identified the urgency of having technical tools, effective regulatory frameworks, and access to financing to address one of the greenhouse gases with the highest short-term warming potential and highly cost-effective mitigation options.
The initiative is led by OLACDE within the framework of the activities of the Latin America and Caribbean Methane Emissions Observatory and is supported by strategic partner organizations, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Air Task Force (CATF), the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Methane Hub (GMH), as well as regional organizations and development banks. These partners will contribute technical expertise, monitoring tools, public policy support, and financing opportunities for mitigation projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.
While reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector is a priority, the community adopts a broader approach that also includes mining, hydropower, and the production of biogas and biomethane from solid and agricultural waste, recognizing the diversity of emission sources and opportunities for action in the region.
COEMLAC will be structured around key pillars including governance, technology and innovation, financing, climate transparency, and research. Activities will include technical webinars, exchange sessions among governments, specialized events, and partnerships for applied research.
Through this initiative, OLACDE consolidates its previous work in energy capacity building and regional data generation, marking a transition from diagnosis to implementation and integrating energy planning, climate governance, and regional cooperation to support policy decisions with real impact.
OLACDE invites governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to actively join this community, conceived as a collaborative platform to strengthen regional integration and contribute concretely to methane emissions reduction.
Register for COEMLAC at the following link:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ogzbo_uJREua8mHh4s2k74XV9AAYqKxPt4en3D-0WidUNzBKNlBER1JaUzhHVUVBMFgwUTQ4Rk1NWi4u&route=shorturl
More information:
oemlac@olacde.org
Watch the launch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn3R3Z0dtwQ
