UNEP Set To Launch Food Waste Index Report 2024

Posted on March 26, 2024

OJO BUKOLA GRACE

To mark the second annual International Day of Zero Waste, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will launch its Food Waste Index Report 2024 on Wednesday, 27 March 2024.

P.M. EXPRESS understands that the report provides the latest global estimates on food waste, occurring at retail and consumer level. Addressing food waste is an important facet of embracing zero waste and tackling the climate crisis.

Leading experts on food waste will highlight the report’s findings and recommendations.

Speakers at the unveiling event include Dechen Tsering – Acting Director, Climate Change Division, UNEP, Clementine O’Connor – Report Lead, UNEP, Richard Swannell, Report Lead, WRAP, Adalberto Maluf, Secretary of Urban Environment, Ministry of Environment, Brazil and Thembelihle Ndukwana, Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.

Others are Hodayah Finman, Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs, US EPA and Alwin Kopse, Head of International Affairs and Food Systems, Federal Office of Agriculture of Switzerland.

UNEP, as custodian of the SDG 12.3 food waste indicator, publishes a triennial report tracking country-level progress to halve food waste by 2030. First published in 2021, the initial report demonstrated that household food waste is a global challenge, not limited to high-income countries.

The International Day of Zero Waste promotes responsible production and consumption patterns and encourages a shift towards a lifecycle approach. This ensures that no materials or resources go to waste, enabling society to recognize waste as a resource.