Global Warming: Expert cautions Nigerians against food wastage at Yuletide

“The rate of food waste during festivities is very alarming. For instance, much of the food prepared during the Yuletide will never be eaten,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria • December 21, 2022

Left over foods used to illustrate the story

A climate change expert, David Terungwa, has called on Nigerians to avoid food waste during the Yuletide, as refuse generated from such can increase global warming and climate change.

Mr Terungwa, team lead, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), made the call while addressing journalists on the impacts of climate change in the environment in Abuja on Wednesday.

“The rate of food waste during festivities is very alarming. For instance, much of the food prepared during the Yuletide will never be eaten,” he said.

He said food waste in landfills produced more methane greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2).

According to him, excess greenhouse gases, such as methane, CO2 and chlorofluorocarbons, absorb infrared radiation and heat up the earth’s atmosphere, thus causing global warming and climate change.

He said food wastes represented a waste of fresh water and groundwater resources, with agriculture accounting for 70 per cent of the water used worldwide.

Mr Terungwa stated that in addition to wasted money, discarded food negatively impacted the environment, contributing to global warming.

The expert said the packaging of many food products was excessive, adding that there was a growing awareness that such packaging was not environmental-friendly and could land up in landfills.

“Food wastage is a bad attitude, particularly in a nation where we have children who spend days on empty stomachs. Our leftovers could be someone’s first meal,” he said.

Mr Terungwa quoted the United Nations as estimating that one in every three people in the world does not have access to sufficient food to lead a healthy life.

He observed that lack of planning by or for home cooks often led to food waste.

According to him, some tips that can help waste less food, such as creating menus with existing food items and preparing less food, should be applied to reduce food wastage.

“Above all, show humanity; share with those who do not have and make this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations food waste-free,’’ he said.

(NAN)

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