HUNDREDS of thousands of people are gearing up across the globe to take part in World Environment Day (WED), the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action.

This year the main event is hosted by the government and people of Mongolia, and focuses on the new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) campaign Think.Eat.Save. Reduce Your Foodprint, which is aimed at slashing food waste.

Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced ends up spoiling in the bins of consumers, retailers, farmers and transporters. This 1.3 billion tonnes, worth around US$1 trillion, is enough to feed the 870 million people who go hungry each day several times over.

This unconsumed food, much of which can be cut out through simple measures, wastes both the energy put into growing it and the fuel spent on transporting produce across vast distances. Additionally, significant amounts of the powerful greenhouse gas methane emanate from food decomposing on landfills, while livestock and forests cleared for food production contribute to global warming.

The new campaign has already made inroads into spreading the message that every individual and organization can make a difference, and World Environment Day aims to further reinforce this idea.

In Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to environment sustainable business practice. The managing director, Mr. Dharnes Gordhon said that the company aims to be the most efficient energy user among food manufacturers as the Nestle continuously reduces its environmental footprint by ensuring efficient use of energy for manufacturing operations.

Gordhon said that the company is committed to promoting sustainable consumption by helping consumers improve their own environment impact through clear portion guidance and preparation instructions.

Similarly, Friends of the Environment (FOTE) in collaboration with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) is organizing a one-day workshop at the Federal Government College, Ijanikin in commemoration of the WED.

WED aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place year round but climax on June 5. WED celebrations began in 1972 and have grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

Through WED, the UN Environment Programme is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.