The UN Environment Programme and its partners today launched a new initiative to halve food waste by 2030 and reduce methane emissions by up to seven per cent as part of efforts to slow climate change.
Launched at COP30 in Belém, the Food Waste Breakthrough is a 2030 Climate Solution under the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, uniting governments, cities, and civil society to address an issue that strikes at the heart of global hunger and climate change.
The world wastes over one billion tonnes of food annually, accounting for up to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. It accounts for up to 14 per cent of methane emissions – a short-lived climate pollutant that is 84 times more potent at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over 20 years.
Contributing to a financial loss of $1 trillion per year, reducing food waste offers one of the most cost-effective, scalable, and high-impact solutions to tackle climate change and hunger – especially in cities.
“The world wastes an unforgivable amount of food each year, in every country, rich and poor,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director. “Reducing this food waste is key to addressing hunger and cutting methane emissions from landfills, decisive action to lower global temperatures, save money, and tackle food insecurity at the same time. The Food Waste Breakthrough is exactly the kind of big-hitting initiative we need to keep climate change in check and save nutritious food for those who need it.”
“If left unchecked, food waste could double its methane impact by 2050, threatening our climate and food security. But the solution is in our hands. By uniting governments, cities, businesses, and communities globally to halve food waste by 2030 and keep food out of landfills, we can cut methane, unlocking bold climate action and propelling humanity toward a future where food shortage and waste are history,” stated Dan Ioschpe, COP30 Climate High-Level Champion.
The Food Waste Breakthrough is built on three pillars: Capacity Building & Advocacy, Data & Policy, and Finance & Implementation.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility, UNEP will launch a $3 million, four-year global project to implement the targets of the Food Waste Breakthrough.
The project will accelerate food waste prevention and methane mitigation by adapting and scaling proven solutions at the national and sub-national level in developing countries and promoting global collaboration on this topic
“Addressing food waste through prevention and behavioural change holds promise not only for cost-effective climate action, but also towards supporting sustainable consumption,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility. “We look forward to partnering with countries and cities to scale up such investments as part of our commitment to bring about transformational change through integrated solutions.”
UNEP is also collaborating with financial institutions and foundations to secure a $5 million challenge fund to support 20-25 community innovations led by cities or youth across Latin America & the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
