Updates

Tick-Tock: The Planet’s Countdown to Climate Action

July 22, 2024

Unveiling itself on September 19th, 2020 with giant red flashing lights that wrote out “7 yrs, 102 days, 12:01:59”, the Climate Clock in New York City brought a sobering reality to the real-world effects of climate change. Now with over five clocks spanning hundreds of feet in major cities across the globe, the numbers continue to tick down, signifying the amount of time we have left to reduce carbon emissions to prevent irreversible climate impacts. July 22nd, 2024 marks the pinnacle moment where the clock strikes below 5 years for the first time.

The Climate Clock is a climate change activist organization blurring the lines between art, science, and technology to mobilize the world to #ActInTime. The ominous ticking clock represents the amount of time before the world hits a global warming of 1.5 degrees celsius, or when the impacts of climate change become irreversible. 

At We Don’t Waste, we believe that understanding the intersection between climate change and food waste is critical for driving change towards a more equitable future for all. Food waste is not just a missed opportunity to feed those in need; it is a significant environmental issue.

When food is wasted, all the resources used to produce it—water, energy, labor, and transportation are also squandered, which adds up to 21%-30% of water wasted, or 1.3 billion tons. More alarmingly, food waste that ends up in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is over 25 times more impactful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Globally, approximately one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. In the United States alone, that figure rises to 40%, equating to roughly 219 pounds of waste per person each year. The United Nations estimates that if food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses after the US and China.

Climate justice recognizes the disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income communities around the world, the people typically least responsible for the problem, and is an important part of the discussion. Underrepresented populations, including marginalized communities and individuals with lower economic status, often bear the brunt of climate impacts despite having a minimal carbon footprint. These groups are typically more vulnerable to climate-related disasters, such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and food insecurity, due to their limited financial resources and development of factories or waste production plants in lower income areas.  Unlike wealthier demographics, marginalized communities often lack the means to relocate, rebuild, or adapt to the changing environment, leading to greater negative impacts on their livelihoods and well-being.

Climate change won’t cause an instantaneous, end-of-the-world event like in a Hollywood movie portrayal, rather, just the end of the world as we know it. Unless we do something. The purpose of this clock is to remind us of the urgency to protect our planet.

At We Don’t Waste, we are committed to reducing food waste and its environmental impact through innovative solutions:

1. Food Recovery: We rescue food that would otherwise go to waste and redirect it to those in need. By partnering with local nonprofits, farms, and community organizations, we ensure that surplus food is efficiently distributed.
2. Education and Awareness: We educate communities about the importance of reducing food waste at home and in businesses. Simple actions like meal planning, proper food storage, and understanding expiration dates can significantly reduce household food waste.
3. Advocacy: We advocate for policies that support food waste reduction and promote sustainability. This includes supporting legislation that encourages food donation and the development of infrastructure to manage food waste effectively.

It is important to understand the scope at which our agricultural system and capitalistic tendencies of production and overconsumption are impacting the warming of Earth’s atmosphere. From the deforestation and degradation of our soil, run-off of toxic chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers, lack of biodiversity, and overproduction of crops, fostering impactful change starts with our systems. While this may be scary, we ALL have the power to start inciting real change at both a micro and macro level. 

Here’s How You Can Help

Reducing food waste is a collective effort. Here are some ways you can contribute:

1. Plan Your Meals: Buy only what you need and plan meals to make the most of your ingredients.
2. Store Food Properly: Learn how to store different types of food to extend their shelf life.
3. Use Leftovers Creatively: Repurpose leftovers into new meals to avoid throwing them away.
4. Support Local Nonprofits: Donate to local organizations like We Don’t Waste to support those in your community most effectively.
5. Call Your Local Representative: Understand the climate change and waste management protocols in your area and advocate for a more sustainable future. You can find your local representative’s information here!
6. Limit Your Consumption: Not all organizations prioritize sustainability or ethical business practices equally. Take some time to learn about how the companies producing the products you buy regularly are impacting our planet, and see if you can find more sustainable alternatives. Checkout the Ethical Consumer and their Shopping Guides to learn more!
7. Shop Small and Local: By shopping locally and in season you ensure not only the best quality of food for yourself, but you also reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced by each product with less shipping.
8. Do not give up hope! Small habit changes from each of us quickly add up to larger impacts, and demanding change in our governments and in our capitalist systems are the most effective levers of change.