How WFP Is Helping Keep the Air Clean and the Skies Blue
For International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, we’re taking a look at how #healthyairhealthyplanet and #ZeroHunger go hand in hand.
By 2050, climate change could push millions of people into the throes of hunger and malnutrition. Among other factors, air pollution is one important contributor to climate change and damages plants, animals and people.
In 2020, the U.N. World Food Programme provided food assistance to 115.5 million people in 84 countries.
On International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, the United Nations calls on everyone to take action to reduce air pollution and bring transformative change into our lifestyles. Today, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, this call is more important than ever.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) believes that small actions can help change the world. Here are four things we are doing to ensure that our work to reach zero hunger has minimal impacts on the local communities we serve and the planet.
1) Clean Cooking for the People We Serve
Smoke from cooking with wood or charcoal on traditional cookstoves causes respiratory diseases, which are responsible for more premature deaths worldwide every year than malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined. In 2020, the U.N. World Food Programme provided 1.2 million people with innovative ways to reduce the potential health impacts of air pollution caused by cooking.
The U.N. World Food Programme Malawi Country Office Team with their new e-cookers.
In Malawi, where over 90% of people depend on wood fuel for cooking, forest area has decreased by approximately 18% between 2003 and 2018 alone, posing a serious threat to the food security of small-scale farmers. To address this, the U.N. World Food Programme is distributing solar-powered electric cookers in eight districts of Malawi’s Southern region. By replacing wood fuel with solar energy, these environmentally friendly cookers help families improve their health while saving money and time.
2) Greening Our Fleet
Road transport represents 74% of global transport CO2 emissions. Greening our passenger and heavy fleets is a key priority for the U.N. World Food Programme. Shifting to smaller vehicles with 30% less fuel consumption rates, providing nearly 5,000 U.N. drivers with eco-driving training and optimizing our operational requirement for efficiency and effectiveness are just a few actions the U.N. World Food Programme has taken to reduce emissions.
This unstoppable super truck is a game-changer in South Sudan.
3) Keeping the Skies Blue
The global aviation industry produces around 2% of all human-induced CO2 emissions. From the start of our humanitarian mission back in the 1960s, the U.N. World Food Programme has leveraged air transport to bring food and humanitarian workers to the world’s most remote places.
The the U.N. World Food Programme Aviation Service’s environmental program sets a clear vision for us to continue measuring, reporting and reducing emissions, promoting alternative fuel usage, enhancing efficiency, optimizing aircraft use and exploring carbon offsetting options.
Installing a solar panel in Jordan.
4) Environmentally-Friendly Operations
U.N. World Food Programme Engineers are present throughout our global operations and, whenever possible, propose cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas. This includes incorporating energy efficient equipment and renewable energy systems that save thousands of tons of emissions per year, as well as circular economy solutions like reusing, repairing, refurbishing, repurposing or recycling products and materials.
Every Action Counts
Despite the complex challenges the U.N. World Food Programme faces every day in our global operations, we remain committed to making the environment a priority. Whether it’s something as simple as recycling right, or as big as using superhero-like amphibious vehicles, it all adds up to create a healthier tomorrow.
This story originally appeared on WFP’s Stories on September 3, 2021 and was written by Anthony Priolo and Shadtha Ali.
