Global WtERT® Council

📢Zhejiang University SDG Global Summer School Applications are still OPEN! Here’s your chance to join us in the 2025 #ZJU SDG Global Summer School (GSS) and experience AI, which is scheduled to be held from June to August this year. This on-site program welcomes undergraduate and graduate students from around the globe to take part in course-based or practice-based activities themed on SDGs under the mentorship of world-class professors from both ZJU and its global partner universities. 🌟GSS Program Highlights: ✒️Benefit from high-quality courses designed by world-class instructors ✒️Increase your knowledge and know-how in the field of SDGs ✒️Develop your scientific and professional network ✒️Enjoy an authentic cultural experience and unforgettable social engagement with an international group of peers ✒️Industry visits, excursions around picturesque Hangzhou city Ready for an unforgettable experience with international peers? 👉APPLY NOW: https://lnkd.in/gbfd7YEN Applications are accepted from Jan 13 - April 11, 2025, 23:59 (GMT+8)

Happy Chinese New Year from WtERT! As we step into the Year of the Snake, we wish all our partners and friends wisdom, resilience, and success. Just as the snake symbolizes transformation and renewal, may this year bring us closer to achieving our mission of advancing sustainable waste management and WtE+X technologies, reducing methane emissions, and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable world. Let’s continue transforming challenges into opportunities for a greener future! Warm wishes, The Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT®)

Exciting News! WtERT® is now a UNEP-accredited observer! Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/gMZ6ceYt

Celebrating Global Collaboration at the Closing Ceremony of the International Training Workshop on Waste-to-Energy, Hangzhou, China. Hosted by Zhejiang University and co-organized by Zhejiang University of Technology and the International Consultant Committee on Waste-to-Energy (ICCWtE), with support from WtERT. On November 8th, we concluded an inspiring two-week journey with 20 participants from 15 countries who joined to learn about Waste-to-Energy technologies, explore Chinese infrastructure advancements and experience the richness of Chinese culture. This workshop wasn’t just about knowledge—it was a commitment to action. Together, we addressed urgent climate challenges and shared sustainable solutions for managing waste in ways that protect communities and reduce methane emissions. The real power of this workshop lies in the unity it fostered. Each participant leaves with new insights, unforgettable memories, newfound friendships and a global network, ready to drive change back home. When knowledge is shared across borders, it becomes a bridge, connecting nations and sparking collaboration toward a cleaner, greener world. Read the full press release, complete with photos and videos from the closing ceremony: https://lnkd.in/gXBu7VAM

Empowering Nations through Innovation: China Leads Knowledge-Sharing at the 8th International Training Workshop on Waste-to-Energy. On October 28th, 2024, we proudly announce the 8th International Training Workshop on Waste-to-Energy, co-sponsored by the International Consultant Committee on Waste-to-Energy (ICCWtE) hosted at Zhejiang University, with endorsement from WtERT and Zhejiang University’s Advanced Energy International Joint Research Center. With over 60 influential attendees, this workshop marks a significant step toward advancing global sustainable waste management. This year, the workshop welcomes 20 exceptional participants from 15 countries for an intensive 15-day program covering topics like innovative waste management frameworks, advanced treatment technologies, and sustainable business models. Participants will also engage in hands-on field studies to experience China’s cutting-edge waste-to-energy solutions. China is committed to sharing its expertise to empower developing nations with state-of-the-art Waste-to-Energy technologies for a sustainable future. 🔗 Read the full press release, complete with photos and videos from the opening ceremony, here: https://lnkd.in/gMG6thR4

During recent Waste-to-Energy events hosted by WtERT | Earth Engineering Center, Columbia University at the Columbia Climate School and City College of New York, we had the opportunity to connect with the exceptional team at Reworld Waste, one of the foremost WtE companies in the U.S. Our meeting brought together key WtERT leaders, including President Prof. Huang Qunxing, founder Prof. Nickolas Themelis, and VP of International Relations Reda Kabbaj. Our discussions highlighted the latest in research and innovation in the WtE sector, with a spotlight on emerging technologies from China. We explored WtERT’s initiatives and Zhejiang University's pioneering work in fly and bottom ash utilization, which demonstrates a practical approach to sustainable waste management and resource recovery. A significant portion of our agenda was also dedicated to advancements in AI technologies and their potential applications in WtE processes—an exciting area with transformative implications for the industry.

On October 1, 2024, Prof. Huang, Vice-Dean, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University and President of WtERT®, delivered an insightful lecture at Columbia Climate School. He emphasized how Waste-to-Energy technologies are essential for reducing methane emissions, protecting the environment, and managing waste in large urban areas, including the impact of AI on waste management. With China's goal to phase out landfills by 2030, WtE plays a key role in sustainable urban development. Read the full report at the link and watch the lecture on the Columbia Climate School YouTube channel.

WtERT® Joins the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to Champion Climate Action and Sustainable Waste Management We're excited to announce that the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT®) is now officially part of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), an initiative founded by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University. WtERT® will work within SDSN to champion Waste-to-Energy (WtE) as a key infrastructure solution to mitigate climate change. With methane’s warming impact more than 84 times that of CO₂ over a 20-year horizon, reducing landfill emissions is essential. WtERT® will contribute to advancing sustainable WtE technology to reduce landfill dependency and foster a low-carbon and circular economy for a resilient future. In collaboration with SDSN, we will share science-based data and insights to support evidence-based policies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a sustainable future for all. For more information, check out the full press release: https://lnkd.in/gB85UvjU #WtERT #SDSN #ClimateAction #WasteToEnergy #MethaneReduction #CircularEconomy #SDGs #Sustainability

Uzbekistan is set to enhance environmental sustainability by constructing eight state-of-the-art waste-to-energy (WtE) plants by 2027. These projects will transform household waste into clean electricity, showcasing the nation’s commitment to circular economy practices. This initiative represents a significant step for both Uzbekistan and the global WtE movement, demonstrating how waste can be turned into valuable resources for a cleaner, greener future! Additionally, the recent visit of Environment Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov to Zhejiang University, where he engaged with WtERT China members, underscores the collaborative efforts to address Uzbekistan's energy and ecological challenges through innovative solutions.

On September 24, 2024, our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the groundbreaking Varme Energy Waste-to-Energy (WtE) project in Edmonton during an event co-hosted with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the United Nations. Trudeau praised Varme Energy our partner and member of Global WtERT® Council and WtERT Canada as a model for effective climate action, stating, 'Varme Energy is a perfect example of what we can accomplish with smart carbon pricing policy.' at the 4:48 mark of this YouTube video. The Varme project, in collaboration with the City of Edmonton and Canada Growth Fund, is set to build Canada’s first industrial-scale WtE facility with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Processing 150,000 tons of waste annually, it will reduce methane emissions, support the transition to a net-zero grid, and create hundreds of jobs—true innovation for a sustainable future!"