Food waste contributes to global warming — CCC

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) is pushing for efficient and sustainable practices in food production and consumption to reduce food waste, which contributes significantly to global warming.

Climate Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman stressed the need for efficient and sustainable use of natural resources in food production as 25 to 30 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the food system. 

In order to achieve this, the CCC eyes the promotion of less meat-intensive diets and the reduction – if not total elimination – of food waste. 

De Guzman said his agency is committed to assist the food sector in transitioning into a low-carbon and sustainable industry since food security is one of the thematic areas of the country’s National Climate Change Action Plan.

“We are pursuing the development of national and local policies that will create an enabling environment for sustainable food value chains,” he said at Wednesday’s Sustainable Diner Summit 2020 in Quezon City.

“We are finding pathways to combine supply-side actions such as efficient production, transport and processing with demand-side interventions such as modification of food choices and reduction of food loss and waste,” he added.

Green economy

Aside from sustainability in food production, the CCC is also developing green building standards and promoting the greening of hotels, resorts and hospitals.

De Guzman said the climate body is also advancing green jobs in a bid to transform sectors and industries into low carbon and green economy, in line with its mandate under Republic Act 10771 or the Green Jobs Act of 2016.

He said this is parallel to the agency’s formulation of the first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of the Philippines.

The NDC is a document that will communicate the country’s ambition for reducing carbon emissions on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development and poverty reduction.

De Guzman stressed the importance of investing in a climate-smart future by mainstreaming climate change in development planning and investment programming.

“Sustainability and climate-friendly development are where the smart money is headed for,” he said.

“Years of technological and policy innovation have created a completely new playing field for investments. Climate solutions are now often cheaper and provide greater socio-economic returns than carbon-intensive alternatives,” he said.