United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Launched Food Waste Index (FWI) Report 2024 | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Launched Food Waste Index (FWI) Report 2024

Posted 29 Mar 2024

2 min read

  • Report co-authored with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) was published ahead of International Day of Zero Waste (observed annually on 30 March). 
  • FWI tracks global and national generation of food and inedible parts wasted at retail and consumer (household and food service) levels. 
    • It supports the goals of two indicators of SDG 12.3 which is to be achieved by 2030 i.e.
      • SDG 12.3.1 (a), Food Loss Index (FLI), reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. Food and Agriculture Organization is custodian of FLI.
      • SDG 12.3.1 (b), FWI, halve per-capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels. UNEP is custodian of FWI.

 

  • Key findings
    • Households across all continents wasted over 1 billion meals a day in 2022, while 783 million people were affected by hunger and a third of humanity faced food insecurity.
    • Food Waste generates an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Issues:
      • Due to lack of robust cold chains, hotter countries generate more food waste per capita in households.
      • Insufficient Data for retail and food service sectors, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
      • Fragmented food system.

 

About WRAP

  • It is a climate action NGO (established in UK in 2000) working to tackle causes of climate crisis and give the planet a sustainable future.

 

Suggestions for reducing food waste through collaborative approach 

  • Systemic action through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) model. Example, Courtauld Commitment 2030 (UK), Australian Food Pact etc.
  • Establish a roadmap or delivery plan, targeting priority areas or “hotspots” of waste.
  • Tags :
  • Food Waste Index
  • SDG 12.3
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