Date: 19 November 2024
Time: 12:30 – 14:00 AZT
Location: Waste and Resources Pavilion, Green Zone Stand A10, Baku, Azerbaijan
Organizers: UNEP, ISWA
This is an official side-event of the UNFCCC COP29.
Description: Food waste is a critical global issue with profound environmental, economic, and social implications, particularly in urban areas where high population density exacerbates waste management challenges. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report 2024, one fifth of food available at consumer level is wasted, highlighting inefficiencies in resource use and environmental impact. Urban food systems contribute significantly to this problem, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions and straining municipal waste management.
Addressing food waste at the city level requires a shift toward circular production and consumption patterns, as targeted by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3. This session will showcase successful global strategies, emphasizing local government and community collaboration. Recommendations include developing comprehensive city-wide food waste strategies, investing in infrastructure for separate collection and management of organic waste, supporting consumer behaviour change tackling motivations, ability and opportunities to reduce food waste, supporting innovation for circular food systems transitions, and implementing food waste deterrence policies, such as fees or bans on organic waste to landfill. By exploring these practices and policies, participants will gain valuable insights into reducing food waste and fostering sustainable urban food systems.
