WRAP - Why Food Waste Matters at COP27

Climate action NGO WRAP says 89% of countries signed up to the Paris Agreement are failing to incorporate food waste commitments into their NDCs. And by ignoring the contribution food waste makes to global GHG emissions, they are failing to address up to 10% of global emissions linked to food production.

In addition to the nine country commitments to reduce food waste, 14 NDCs commit to reducing food losses (two overlapping with those including food waste reductions) meaning 21 countries out of 193 are committed to reducing food loss and/or waste. And, of the nine-mentioning food waste, commitments range significantly with this inconsistency further risking undermining essential work on climate action.

 

Number of countries

Food waste reduction within NDC

9

Food loss reduction within NDC

14

Total including FLW within NDC

21

Improving recycling and composting of food and/or organic waste

39

Total including FLW and improving food waste management

50

 

WHY THIS MATTERS

The IPCC estimates food systems contribute up to 37% of global GHG emissions. Even if all other GHG emissions stopped immediately, global food production on its own would push Earth beyond the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The global food system is amazing in feeding the number of people it does, but it is arguably responsible for more damage to the planet than anything else we do.

• It is the single biggest cause of biodiversity loss – as much as 80%.
• It uses 70% of all freshwater and is a major source of freshwater pollution.
• It is the second biggest driver of climate change after energy generation.
• Nearly one billion tonnes of food ended up in the bin in 2019 (worth one trillion dollars). GHG emissions associated with this food waste amounts to around 8% of the global total – several times more than aviation.
• This is a health and economic crisis too:
  • WRAP’s work with UNEP shows that 17% of all the food didn’t make it to a mouth.
  • The World Economic Forum estimates that food loss and waste costs the global economy $936 billion a year, and that overall food systems cost society $12 trillion in health, economic and environmental costs.

 

The issue is only growing, with estimates that by 2030 annual food loss and waste could reach 2.1 billion tonnes CO2e per year.

Reducing food waste and loss can lead to reduced GHG emissions by 2.1 GtCO2e/yr3 (the same as 450 million cars off the road for a year). It can help reduce food insecurity and improve profitability for businesses, workers and producers across the food system. Reducing food waste can also help citizens save money on food bills. In 2018, it was estimated that food thrown away by UK households was worth £13.3 billion. If half of this had been eaten instead of discarded, this could have saved each household £240.

The huge carbon footprint of our food systems can be reduced in three keyways: by cutting emissions from food production, by changing the types of food we produce and eat, and by reducing food waste.

 

WRAP calls on all governments

• To commit to delivering UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 within their NDCs. 
• To introduce mandatory food waste reporting.
• To provide support for collaborative business action such as through membership of voluntary agreements.
• And to deliver citizen behaviour change programmes.

 

OUR EXPERT TEAM AT COP

• Richard Swannell – Interim CEO
• Claire Shrewsbury – Director of Insights and Innovation
• David Rogers – Interim International Director
• Keith James – Head of Policy and Insights