EHSQL(Environment-Energy ,Health,Safety, Security and Social Ac. ,Quality-Lab) Technical services: September 2024

Monday, 30 September 2024

The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) is observed annually on September 29

The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW) is observed annually on September 29 to raise awareness of the importance of reducing food loss and waste. The United Nations General Assembly designated this day, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) co-convene the events.

The 2024 IDAFLW will have the theme "Climate Finance for Food Loss and Waste Reduction".

Some reasons why reducing food loss and waste is important include:

Resource waste: When food is lost or wasted, the resources used to produce it, such as water, land, energy, labor, and capital, go to waste.

Greenhouse gas emissions: When food loss and waste is disposed of in landfills, it contributes to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases.

Sustainable Development Goal 12.3: This goal aims to halve global food waste per capita by 2030.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – specifically SDG 12, Target 12.3 – calls for halving per-capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains. Target 16 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) among other issues, also calls for “halving global food waste by 2030”. We need to urgently accelerate the pace of actions to reduce food loss and waste, and transform agrifood systems, so as to meet the SDG 12.3 Target, and that set by the GBF – with tangible benefits for people and the planet

The world wastes about 19% of food produced, which is around 1.05 billion metric tons of food. This amounts to about 174 pounds of food wasted per person each year.

Here are some other statistics about food waste:

Sources of food waste: 60% of food waste comes from households, 28% from restaurants, and 12% from retailers.

Environmental impact: Food waste contributes to 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Economic impact: Food waste costs an estimated $1 trillion per year.

Landfill waste: Food waste makes up 24% of landfill waste.

Combusted solid waste: Food waste makes up 22% of combusted solid waste.

Food insecurity: About 1/3 of the world's population doesn't have adequate access to food.

Food waste is a global concern because it has a negative impact on the environment and the economy. Rotting food in landfills creates methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Food waste also prevents nutrients from being cycled into the soil, which is important for gardening and landscaping.

With best regard

Saturday, 28 September 2024

NEW DELHI: Dominance of fossil fuels in electricity generation in India will end by the end of the decade said Reserve Bank of India in its latest report.

The report also noted that the renewable energy is expected to cross 50 per cent share in electricity generation globally. It added that the energy transition has accelerated in recent years, with the pace of clean technology deployment and capital investment surging to record levels.

"The era of fossil fuels' dominance is coming to an end, with renewables expected to cross 50 per cent share of electricity generation globally by the end of this decade" said RBI.

It added that the rise of cleaner power generation offers a valuable window to address "hard-to-abate" sectors such as steelmaking and aviation, where low-carbon alternatives are still in their nascent stages. The central bank also highlighted that the importance of increasing investments in low-carbon energy.

"Cleaner power generation can drive bulk of the aggressive emissions cuts that are urgently needed, enabling more time to tackle 'hard-to-abate' areas like steelmaking and aviation, where cost competitive low-carbon solutions have yet to scale" added RBI.

The report pointed out that for every dollar invested in fossil fuels, an average of three dollars needs to be allocated to renewable energy in the coming years, a substantial increase from the current ratio, where both sectors receive equal investment. A tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030 is seen as essential to meeting net-zero emission targets by mid-century.

"On the energy supply side, for every US dollar that goes to fossil fuels, an average of USD 3 needs to be invested in low-carbon energy over the remainder of the decade" RBI said.

The RBI highlighted that a fully decarbonized global energy system by 2050 will come at an estimated cost of USD 215 trillion, the report projects.

However, the report remains optimistic about the ongoing efforts in greening the financial sector, stressing that finding the right balance between public policy interventions and market-based competition will be key to achieving this ambitious energy transition.

The central bank also noted that financial inclusion has seen significant improvement as the world continues to advance toward a more sustainable energy future.

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