Shaoxing meeting puts spotlight on food waste

About 800 government officials, representatives of international organizations and business representatives discussed food waste and sustainable urban development at a recent meeting in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province.

"Around one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted," said Anaclaudia Rossbach, United Nations under-secretary-general and executive director of UN-Habitat, in a video address to the Global Observance of World Cleanup Day 2026 on Sunday. It was the first time the global observance was hosted in China.

Food loss and waste account for up to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, putting pressure on the climate, natural resources and municipal waste systems, Rossbach said.