In the fight against climate change, food waste has been identified as a key issue. Food waste is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire transportation sector. If we want to make progress in solving climate change, we need to address food waste. In this article, we will explore the impact of food waste on climate change and sustainability, and discuss ways to reduce our food waste footprint.
Food waste is a major problem because it is responsible for such a large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. When food rots in landfills, it emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. If we can reduce our food waste, we can make a significant dent in our greenhouse gas emissions and start the move from a Linear Economy to a Circular Economy.
In addition to its impact on climate change, food waste is also a major issue for sustainability. Food waste takes up valuable resources, including water, land, and energy. It takes a lot of water to grow our food, and when we throw that food away, we are wasting all of the resources that went into producing it.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce our food waste footprint. One way is to compost our food scraps. Composting is a process of breaking down organic matter, like food scraps, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This amendment can be used to improve the quality of our soil and grow healthier plants.
Another way to reduce our food waste footprint is to donate excess food to food banks or other organizations that can use it like OzHarvest (featured in the 2nd Renaissance Podcast). Food banks provide meals to people in need, and by donating our excess food, we can help make sure that no one goes hungry.
If we want to make progress in solving climate change, we need to address food waste (for more insights tune into our vodcast interview with OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn below). By composting our food scraps and donating our excess food, we can make a difference. Let's all do our part to reduce food waste and help solve climate change.