The world celebrated 29th September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. Yet, Food loss and waste (FLW), along with the management of organic waste in cities, remains one of the most critical blind spots in today’s climate and waste policies. 

Each year, one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted—at an enormous climate cost. Food loss and waste account for an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and about 30% of the global methane emissions. If FLW were a country, it would rank as the world’s third-largest methane emitter. 

Current national policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) often understate the critical waste–methane nexus. Most cities still lack a circular approach, leaving the majority of organic waste mismanaged. In Asia, the urgency is even greater: the region is responsible for more than half of all methane emissions in the world.  

Tackling FLW is far from straightforward. It is a complex issue requiring coordination across agriculture, waste, city, environment and trade sectors. The scale of the challenge underscores the need for systemic solutions: combining investments in technology and infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, consumer awareness, and private sector innovation. Mainstreaming FLW perspectives into climate commitments and in reforming foodsheds and waste systems, offers a high-impact opportunity to deliver rapid emission cuts while strengthening food security and resource efficiency. Solutions are known and are slowly being applied. Many countries are adopting green cold chains, anaerobic digestion, redistribution of surplus produce, composting, source segregation etc. But it needs a systemic push with equal participation from government and the private sector.  

Recognizing this urgency, GGGI is convening a session at the Global Green Growth Week 2025: “Shifting Paradigms: Addressing Organic Waste and Food Loss for a Greener Future.” The session will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and international partners to share insights on the waste–methane nexus and chart pathways to scale up solutions. It is a call for governments, development partners, and the private sector to treat FLW not as a side issue, but as a central pillar of climate and circular economy strategies. 

“Managing food loss and waste and ensuring that organics are separated at source, is the single greatest challenge for cities today. This persistent blind spot needs to be addressed urgently, as reforming organics management would not only cut methane emissions but also enhance the quantity and value of recyclables, driving the transition to a more resource-efficient and circular economy, ” said Ankit Bhatt, Program Lead – Waste Management, Asia Regional Office and the Session Lead of the Global Green Growth Week 2025’s Circular Economy Session. 

GGGI is supporting Member States and partner countries in addressing this issue at a systemic level. In Vientiane, source segregation and composting initiatives will soon scale up in other secondary cities. Through partnerships with ASEAN, two flagship programs on Integrated Waste Management and Methane, GGGI is working with ASEAN member states in developing coherent policy actions and mobilizing investments into facilities that help manage organic waste and emissions. 

About Global Green Growth Week 2025: Circular Economy Session 

Date: 27 October 2025 

Time: 12:30-14:10 (KST) 

Location: GGGI HQ 3F and Online 

More information: https://globalgreengrowthweek.gggi.org/program/circular-economy/ 

Register Now:  

• In-Person: https://bit.ly/46kjTKq 

• Online: https://bit.ly/4mPTEl8