Four leading NGOs co-host a series of sessions at COP29 to highlight the urgency and benefits of taking national and international action on food loss and waste

They are joining together to advance policies and on-the-ground solutions to reduce food loss and waste, address hunger and protect the planet.

The world loses and wastes over 1 billion tons of food every year, around a third of global production. Food loss and waste (FLW) not only contributes to more food insecurity, but is responsible for as much as 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as 12% of methane emissions—a greenhouse gas that is 86 times more potent than CO2 in the first 20 years for its global warming effects.[GU1] Widespread action today on FLW can have an impact on greenhouse gases in the short term, while ensuring more people are able to get the nutrition they need.

The organizations will host a series of sessions on Food Loss and Waste at the Action on Food Pavilion (Blue Zone), where they will bring together leaders and experts to dig into policies and legal frameworks, explore methods and innovations, and highlight projects and solutions from around the world. These sessions will include representatives from government, business, multilaterals and other civil society organizations.

Together, these sessions will serve as a space to raise awareness, explore ideas and spur momentum on these issues.

Following are quotes from representatives from these organizations on the importance of addressing food loss and waste:

“Around the world, food banks are already doing essential work of recovering and redistributing food for people and the planet. These community-led organizations are making progress—and they are looking to leaders to spur greater action. COP29 is a great opportunity to elevate food loss and waste on the global agenda and encourage more people to join us in this growing movement with partners like WRAP, ReFED, and FareShare,” said Lisa Moon, president and CEO of The Global Food Banking Network.

“When WRAP first attended COP26, no mention was made of the huge impact our food system has on climate change. The following year saw the first Food Pavillion, and at COP28, 160 countries signed the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Transformation. We must build on this momentum at COP29 and that's why we stand with ReFed, the Global Food Banking Network and FareShare to focus on food. WRAP is encouraging more action from more countries - we need food loss and waste to be urgently prioritized in all plans for tackling climate change such as NDCs,” said Richard Swannell, Director of Impact Growth at WRAP.

"In the United States, uneaten food is responsible for five percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions, including nearly four million metric tons of methane—or about 14 percent of U.S. methane emissions. Preventing wasted food and diverting organic material to recycling are some of the most accessible and immediate actions we can take to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the worst effects of climate change. We're thrilled to partner with The Global Foodbanking Network, WRAP, and FareShare to drive attention to this critical opportunity at COP29,” said Dana Gunders, president of ReFED.

“At COP28 in Dubai, governments worldwide committed to the Emirates Declaration, a landmark promise to integrate food systems into national climate strategies. Reducing food loss and waste is crucial to achieving this shared global objective. That's why FareShare is proud to partner with WRAP, ReFED, and The Global Foodbanking Network at COP29 to lead a series of events focused on transforming our food system to lessen its impact on the climate. As the UK’s largest food redistribution charity, FareShare is deeply concerned about the environmental impact of food waste. Surplus food redistribution is vital to meeting food loss and waste targets, turning would-be waste into support for communities in need. Our ‘Where’s The Food?' manifesto outlines policies the UK could adopt to increase surplus food redistribution, taking inspiration from best practices worldwide,” said Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO at FareShare.