Food waste emits five times more greenhouse gases than global aviation

Based on · First reported 4 Oct 2026

Emissions from food loss and waste are about five times greater than those produced by the global aviation industry, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, which notes that more than 1 billion meals are discarded every day and households account for roughly 60 % of total food waste.
When food decomposes anaerobically in landfills it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that traps 86 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20‑year period and contributes to almost one‑third of global warming, while the FAO estimates that 1.4 billion hectares—about 28 % of agricultural land—are used to produce food that is ultimately discarded, with no meaningful progress in reducing losses since 2015.

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