28 January 2016
‘Champions 12.3’ Take on SDG Food Waste Target
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A coalition of 30 international leaders, including CEOs, government ministers and civil society leaders, announced an inititaive to encourage more ambitious action on global food waste reduction.

‘Champions 12.3' is named for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3, which calls to halve per capita food waste and reduce food losses by 2030.

The coalition is co-chaired by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner and Tesco Group Chief Executive Dave Lewis.

champions_12.321 January 2016: A coalition of 30 international leaders, including CEOs, government ministers and civil society leaders, announced an inititaive to encourage more ambitious action on global food waste reduction. ‘Champions 12.3’ is named for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 12.3, which calls to halve per capita food waste and reduce food losses by 2030. The coalition is co-chaired by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner and Tesco Group Chief Executive Dave Lewis.

On 21 January 2016, at the launch of Champions 12.3 during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Steiner and Lewis stressed the importance of measuring food waste, and cooperation between the public and private sectors, to achieve the target. The leaders aim to inspire action on food waste through awareness building, showcasing best practices, and advocating for more investment and innovation in the field.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), food waste accounts for close to US$940 billion in annual global economic losses and 8% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Considerable savings in water, cropland area and energy would also be achieved through reductions in food waste, says FAO. According to the Organization, a reduction in food loss actually has a “negative cost” and can significantly contribute to the achievement of other SDGs.

Champions 12.3 aims to complement and build on other UN programmes to reduce food loss and waste, including SAVE FOOD, Think.Eat.Save and the global Food Loss & Waste Protocol. Lewis also highlighted complementary action with the private sector, such as the Consumer Goods Forum’s Food Waste Resolution. [UNEP Press Release] [Champions 12.3 Press Release] [Tesco PLC Press Release]


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