From Plate to Planet: How Food Waste Fuels Climate Change

Hina Afzal Durrani

Islamabad: Food waste is a massive global problem with serious consequences for nations and the environment, and Pakistan is no exception.

According to a Ministry of National Food Security and Research report, Pakistan wastes 19.6 million metric tonnes (26%), worth $4 billion, of its food production every year. Despite the measures taken to assure food security, the study indicated that most food items are discarded because they do not match the standards of appearance, size, and colour.

The majority of food items are excluded from the supply chain and wasted for a variety of reasons, the report stated, adding that the bulk of food held in kitchens is also wasted annually after its expiration date.

Muhammad Sudhir, a climate change activist and researcher, said that food is being wasted in large quantities in various areas, including residences, fruit and vegetable markets, retail shops, wholesale stores, wheat warehouses, and bakeries.

Consider how the germs they produce affect our ecosystem and climate. This meal either benefits or destroys the environment by decaying. After all these nutrients decay, the process of creating gases that can be used as fuel but are bad for the environment begins, the climate activist added. According to Sidra Dar, another environmental journalist, there are numerous reasons for food waste, which affects not just the poor segments of society but also climate change. She has observed that the key component that is influencing society at large is the growing outside dining habit, while the memory of past indoor meals is fading. The environmental journalist said it has now become a status symbol for people to entertain their friends and family at outdoor dining establishments.

As a result, they have wedding ceremonies and other important events in hotels, restaurants, and villas, where they serve a variety of dishes to guests who overstuff their plates and waste the bulk of the food at the end, which is a wrong practice.

“This leftover food is kept in the kitchen for several hours, which then turns contaminated and starts releasing methane gases that have a harmful impact on the climate and health simultaneously,” Sidra explained.

As per the 2018 national nutrition survey, more than 40 percent of the population is food insecure, and children under the age of five have nutritional deficits.

According to a 2011 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), approximately one-third of all food produced for human use is lost or wasted, amounting to 1.3 billion metric tonnes per year. This waste occurs at every stage of the supply chain, from manufacturing to transportation.

Arif Goheer, Head of Coordination at the Global Climate-Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), said that over 30 percent of food is wasted.

“The food we waste, if managed properly, has the potential to alleviate the country’s food insecurity problem, particularly among the poor.” The resources [land and water] used to produce food are also wasted,” Arif added.

“Zero waste is an important national component of the national food security plan, he said, “but implementation is lacking.”There should be legislation for hotels, restaurants, and marriage halls to reduce food waste. It needs to be controlled at any cost,” he emphasised. “Islam also teaches us not to waste food. Religious leaders must also be proactive,” he said. Food waste, he said, has a negative impact on the ecosystem and is linked to climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and habitat destruction. A multi-dimensional approach is required to cope with it.

Muhammad Sudhir, a climate change activist, said the first and most important need is to launch a public awareness campaign to convince hotels and restaurants to supply as much food as there is hunger. If you do not leave food on your plate, you will receive a 10 percent discount. Donate meals to those who are with you, he says, adding that such declarations are frequently permanently displayed at wedding venues.

Messages of public awareness should be put at small markets, stores, mosques, and community centres, as well as on television and social media. He suggested that such messages should be exhibited in schools, theatres, cinemas, showrooms, highways, motorways, flights, buses, waggons, and bus terminals.

Previous governments, according to environmental journalist Sidra, set tight controls on food waste anywhere in the country. This policy, in my opinion, should be revised and implemented accordingly. Those who break the law must face harsh penalties.

Sidra suggested that awareness campaigns be launched on electronic, social, and digital media to educate people about the importance of not wasting food and instead sharing it with deserving people.

Food waste is a global concern that affects both the most vulnerable members of society and the health of our planet. Combating food waste is not only a moral imperative but also a critical step towards reducing climate change and establishing a more equitable world.

By decreasing food waste, we can alleviate poverty, eliminate economic inequality, and move towards a more sustainable future for all.

It is not just a moral failure in a world where millions of people suffer hunger, but it is also a serious environmental concern.

Hina Afzal Durrani is an APP staffer based in Islamabad, and this feature is part of her fellowship contribution. All information and facts provided are the sole responsibility of the writer.

Edited and additional input by Shazia Mehboob

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