Project Planet: holiday food waste and its detrimental influence in climate change

Food Waste During Thanksgiving Contributes to Climate Change

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – According to the United States EPA, over 70 billion pounds of food ends up in our landfills. It is estimated that roughly 300 million of these pounds are produced during Thanksgiving.

The Impact of Food Waste on Sustainable Development Goals

The most prevalent material found in municipal landfills in the United States is food. With wasted food generating over fifty percent of methane emissions from solid waste municipal landfills, keeping food waste out of landfills this holiday season is a monumental step in reducing anthropogenic climate change.

“We estimate that the greenhouse gases that come from food waste are actually the same as over 80 million cars worth of greenhouse gases,” Dana Gunders, the executive director of ReFED, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending food loss and waste by advancing data-driven solutions said. “Especially when you consider the fact that food is the number one product that is going into landfills today and landfills are the third largest source of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.”

Addressing Food Security and Sustainable Consumption

The steadily increasing population worldwide makes the idea of food security becomes more pressing. This means that moving forward if food loss waste continues at such a high rate, we will all eventually become more vulnerable to food scarcity.

Solutions for Food Waste Reduction

It is important to start practicing food waste reduction habits now and during the holiday season. Such solutions can include:

• Preserving leftovers
• Donating unopened non-perishables to your local food bank
• Composting

“If there is a dinner of 15 people, and you’re going to have eight different sides, they each don’t need to make 15 servings, right?” Gunders said. “That’ll just be too much.”

Join the ReFED Food Waste Action Network

Those interested in learning more about how they can reduce their influence on food loss waste can join the ReFED Food Waste Action Network, and if you would like more information on food waste in the United States, visit the ReFED website.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
   • Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index
   • Indicator 12.3.2: Food waste index

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
   • Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula

3. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
   • Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
   • Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The specific targets identified based on the article’s content are:

• Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:

• Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index
• Indicator 12.3.2: Food waste index
• Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula
• Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
• Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: 13abc.com

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