In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Michael David, the Climate and Environmental Advocate Team Lead for the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), underscored the potential link between Christmas food waste and global warming. David highlighted the contribution of excess greenhouse gases, including methane, carbon dioxide (CO2), and chlorofluorocarbons, to climate change. He urged Nigerians to recognize the environmental consequences associated with discarded festive meals.
Expressing concern over alarming levels of food waste during Christmas, David emphasized that a significant portion of the prepared food remains uneaten, contributing not only to monetary losses but also to the release of harmful gases.
He shed light on the need to consider the energy and natural resources expended in processing, transporting, storing, and cooking food.
Addressing the environmental impact, David pointed out that food waste in landfills generates substantial amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The environmentalist also drew attention to the excessive water usage associated with agriculture, emphasizing the environmental degradation caused by non-biodegradable food packaging.
Highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness, David stressed the environmental unfriendliness of excessive packaging that often ends up as litter.
To tackle the issue of food waste, he provided practical tips, urging individuals to refrain from discarding edible food and encouraging the sharing of surplus food to mitigate wastage.
Emphasizing the societal aspect, David underscored the unfairness of food wastage, especially in a nation where children endure hunger.
As food costs surge nationwide, there is a growing concern that a percentage of food cooked during the yuletide may still end up wasted for various reasons. One significant factor is the power outage in major cities, particularly Lagos, where the Egbin power plant repairs have extended.
The prolonged repairs have left many households unable to power their generators adequately to preserve food due to the high cost of petrol.
Pix:The Internet