WRAP says that 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.
The 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 eat and by reducing food waste.
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.
In 2018, it was estimated that food thrown away by UK households was worth £13.3Bn. If half of this had been eaten instead of discarded, this could have saved each household £240.
WRAP has called on all Governments to:
- 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.