Five times more greenhouse gas generated by food waste than air flights!

Four leading NGOs working to transform the world’s stressed food system have issued an urgent warning that inaction on food loss and waste by many nations is seriously risking food security, whilst feeding climate change. And with global food loss and waste estimated to cost $1 trillion annually, reducing food loss and waste can unlock enormous cost savings and opportunities for governments, businesses and households facing an uncertain future.

The group, which encompasses members of the Global Action Drive (GAD), including the Global FoodBanking Network, ReFED, World Resources Institute and WRAP, is hosting a dedicated webinar ahead of COP30 on an under utilised but transformative climate solution: action on food waste. 

The session will show how cutting food waste can slash emissions, save money, and feed more people – with countries and communities proving what is possible. Scheduled for Thursday 30 October at 3 to 4 pm GMT, ‘Why Ending Food Waste should be on the table at COP30’ will include contributions from leading experts on food waste prevention including:

• Lisa Moon, president and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network.

• Catherine David, CEO of global environmental action NGO WRAP.

• Tomás Saieg Páez, Office of Legislative Implementation and Circular Economy, Ministry of the Environment Chile.

• Laura Lourdelle, resources efficiency manager, Sodexo Group Sustainability.

• Dana Gunders, president of food waste NGO ReFED.

• Alessandra Fajardo, executive director of CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development).

The webinar will detail the latest work from around the world and cover the evolution of food loss and waste in the broader international and UN agenda. It will explore the links between food loss and waste and GHG emissions, adaptation, health and nutrition, and economies with examples from individual countries. 

Critically it will detail the number of countries that include food loss and waste in their NDCs or other policies and launch a guide to help more countries make food waste action a climate priority.

The webinar will cover all aspects from business to country to government voices and explore the barriers to progress and ask: What will it take to put food loss and waste at the heart of climate action? 

Currently, one third of all food produced globally goes to waste and nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions – five times more than aviation – come directly from this wasted food, further fuelling climate change. The volume of global food loss and waste is predicted to top 2.1 billion tonnes per year by 2030 without urgent action, with associated costs expected to cost global economies $1.5 trillion. 

Action by the small number of engaged nations is too little to prevent the worst impacts of climate change linked to food loss and waste, and the group is calling on more Governments to commit to immediate action by adding commitments to tackle FLW in their NDCs at COP30. 

The session is aimed at global media outlets and journalists with a dedicated Q&A session, but open to people and organisations working on food loss and waste. 

Registration is via: https://waste.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GCAjZMWwQOeQ5ubYDTWPVA 

Catherine David, CEO WRAP, said: ‘Food loss and waste is one of the biggest opportunities in the climate transition and one we already know how to solve. 

‘With major food companies achieving measurable food waste reductions and savings, and leading technology companies showing how kitchens and supply chains can cut the waste stream by over 50%, the solutions are here: better measurement, smarter supply chains, consumer education, and circular innovation.

‘What we need now is scale, to turn potential into global progress. Tackling food loss and waste should sit at the heart of every climate plan – it is fast, practical, and affordable. From Kenya to Colombia, countries are embedding food waste reduction into their national climate plans. And at COP30, more governments can show the world what real progress looks like by placing food waste reduction at the core of their national climate commitments.’

‘We have made great progress in recent years drawing the connection between food systems and climate change, but as we head into COP30, we need more action to tackle these dual issues,’ said Lisa Moon, president and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network. ‘Food banks offer an efficient, community based solution to food waste. Food banks work across business, governments and civil society to alleviate hunger, improve nutrition, and reduce methane emissions – at the same time.’

‘Reducing food waste is a major solution, both in its financial and climate potential, and it also offers a range of other benefits as well,’ said Dana Gunders, president of ReFED. ‘What is especially important in this period of global economic turmoil are the financial benefits. Reducing the amount of food that goes to waste across our food system helps maximise the economic resources needed to get it from farms to our plates, easing the cost burden for businesses, governments, and families. It is just one of many benefits that go hand in hand with the climate impacts.’

Liz Goodwin, senior fellow and director, food loss and waste at World Resources Institute, said: ‘Food waste is the world’s most expensive and overlooked climate problem. Each year, it drains $1 trillion from the economy – enough to raise global healthcare spending by 10%. Food waste robs us of the chance to protect the planet, support families facing high food prices, and build a stronger food system. The question is simple: will leaders do more with the food we already have, or let waste keep costing us all?’