Michael David, a climate and environmental advocate and team lead for the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), emphasized the environmental impact of food waste during festive seasons like Christmas.
Christmas, a season synonymous with joy, sharing, and abundance, often takes a toll on the environment that goes unnoticed. Michael David brings attention to the fact that the discarded food during this festive period contributes to global warming. How does this seemingly innocent act result in such dire consequences? The answer lies in the release of greenhouse gases, including methane, carbon dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, emanating from decomposing food in landfills.
Michael David, a climate advocate, warns about the environmental impact of food waste during Christmas, citing greenhouse gas emissions
David urges Nigerians to consider the energy and resources involved in food production and offers practical tips to combat waste.
David highlights a critical connection between the food we waste and its contribution to climate change. When food ends up in landfills, it undergoes anaerobic decomposition, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is significantly more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. In addition to methane, the organic matter in food waste also releases carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons, further exacerbating the greenhouse effect.
Nigeria, like many other countries, experiences a surge in food consumption and waste during the Christmas season. Michael David calls upon Nigerians to be conscious of the energy and resources involved in food production and distribution. His plea extends beyond individual responsibility to a collective call for sustainable practices that can mitigate the environmental impact of festive celebrations.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, David explained that discarded food contributes to global warming by releasing greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons.
He pointed out that excess greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation, heating up the earth’s atmosphere and leading to climate change. David expressed concern about the alarming levels of food waste during Christmas festivities, noting that a significant portion of the prepared food often goes uneaten.
David urged Nigerians to consider the energy and natural resources involved in processing, transporting, storing, and cooking food. He highlighted the environmental consequences of food waste, including the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and the wastage of fresh water and groundwater resources.
In addition, David addressed the environmental impact of excessive food packaging, emphasizing the need for awareness about environmentally unfriendly packaging materials that contribute to landfills and litter.
To combat food waste, David provided practical tips, encouraging people not to throw away good food but instead share it with others. He emphasized the joy of sharing and called for increased awareness about the quantity of food wasted daily, particularly during festive seasons like Christmas. David underscored the unfairness of food wastage, especially in a country where many children go days with empty stomachs.
