Letter from the Co-Chairs of Champions 12.3

Just six years remain to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’ Target 12.3, which calls for halving food loss and waste worldwide by 2030. At this juncture, we fear that the uncomfortable truth is that SDG 12.3 is fast becoming out of reach.

This report shows that the world is at a fork in the road. Unless a slew of companies and countries prioritize food loss and waste reduction, we will have missed one of the best opportunities to build a resilient food system for generations.

But if governments and the private sector act immediately, we may still achieve significant benefits for people, the economy, and the climate. In fact, halving food loss and waste would reduce all global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 5%, according to IPCC estimates.

That’s an astonishing figure, and it shows how sizeable the rewards are for addressing the world’s food loss and waste problem.

As Champions of SDG 12.3, we have been leaders in this effort for almost a decade. We understand just how overwhelming it can feel to reduce food loss and waste. It can be especially difficult in an ecosystem where few others have prioritized the issue.

We, therefore, have a very simple message for everyone: Identify at least one food loss and waste hotspot that you can do something about, and then do it.

If that’s working with a single supplier to reduce food losses, do it. If that’s working with a government agency to promote consumer education, do it. If that’s managing how much food your own household throws out, do it.  No matter what or where the hotspot is, do something.

As you read this report, please take inspiration and ideas for how to curb food loss and waste in your own life and sphere of influence – because the only chance we have to realize SDG 12.3’s enormous promise is if we all do something and we do it now.