Why is Biden being pressured to declare climate change as a national emergency, and would it really curb emissions or natural disasters?

What Would Happen if Climate Change is Declared a National Emergency?

Climate change has been a serious problem for a while now, but with the wildfire smoke soaring through the U.S. after the Canadian wildfires, dwindling air quality across the East Coast this past summer, and the horrific wildfires in Maui – many Americans are beginning to insist that Biden declares climate change as a national emergency.

👉 What would declaring climate change as a national emergency do, how likely is Biden to do it, and what effect would it really have on the country’s carbon footprint and current natural disasters?

Why was Biden receiving pressure to declare climate change as a national emergency?

After one crisis induced by climate change after another, many Americans have finally had enough – with many advocates now pressuring Biden to declare climate change as a national emergency.

Much of this pressure comes after multiple climate-change related incidents and disasters after another – with deadly wildfires, floods, droughts, bizarre weather patterns in California, an increase in bugs, the planet having its hottest day on record, and new vulnerability to power grids alongside these increasing temperatures. 

In fact, the U.S. has already had 23 "billion dollar disasters" this year alone –  depleting the U.S. of a whopping $58 billion in disaster repairs, recoveries, and even reparations – with natural disasters this year alone claiming 253 lives.

President Biden is facing pressures from climate activists and Democrats to declare climate change a national emergency after the devastating wildfire in Maui. NBC News’ Hallie Jackson has more.

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#NBCNews #Biden #ClimateChange

Biden urged to declare climate change a national emergency

Activists are pushing for Biden to declare an official national emergency, believing that more needs to be done despite Biden’s previous efforts to rectify climate change. 

What will happen to climate change in the U.S. now that Trump is president-elect?

Now that Trump has been elected as the 47th president of the United States, it’s clear that climate change will be put on the back burner once more – with the U.S. administration likely to pull out of the Paris Agreement, cut back on climate legislation, and follow through on Trump’s infamous model, “drill, baby, drill.”

All of these efforts to boost the economy and other incentives to refine American culture to Christian nationalism, especially, under Project 2025, will deter the U.S. from prioritising any climate goals in the near future. 

👉 Furthermore, Trump has always made clear that he is skeptical of climate change in of itself – making it unlikely that the Trump administration will view climate change as a national emergency. 

The table below depicts the differences between Biden and Trump's climate change policies:

<table border="1" cellpadding="10">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Policy Area</th>
      <th>Biden's Approach</th>
      <th>Trump's Approach</th>
      <th>Potential Impact of Policy Reversal</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Climate Change and International Agreements</td>
      <td>Rejoined the Paris Agreement, committing to net-zero emissions by 2050 and aiming for a 50-52% reduction by 2030</td>
      <td>Withdrew from the Paris Agreement, emphasising national sovereignty over international climate commitments</td>
      <td>Reversal may reduce U.S. participation in global climate goals, affecting international cooperation and progress</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy</td>
      <td>Supports renewable energy expansion, with funding for solar, wind, and electric vehicle infrastructure</td>
      <td>Promoted fossil fuel industries, reduced regulations on oil and gas drilling, and rolled back renewable energy incentives</td>
      <td>A shift back to fossil fuels may slow clean energy growth, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and hinder job creation in renewables</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Environmental Regulations</td>
      <td>Restored and strengthened EPA regulations on emissions, air, and water quality standards</td>
      <td>Rolled back numerous EPA regulations to reduce business costs, prioritising economic growth over environmental restrictions</td>
      <td>Reversals could weaken environmental protections, leading to poorer air and water quality and increased health risks</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Public Lands and Conservation</td>
      <td>Expanded protections for federal lands and reinstated national monument boundaries reduced under Trump</td>
      <td>Reduced the size of national monuments, opening public lands for oil, gas, and mineral extraction</td>
      <td>A return to reduced protections may lead to increased resource extraction, affecting biodiversity and ecosystems</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Carbon Emissions and Industrial Pollution</td>
      <td>Implemented stricter emissions targets and promoted policies to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector</td>
      <td>Loosened emissions standards for industries, including coal plants, arguing it would benefit the economy and job market</td>
      <td>Looser emissions standards may result in higher greenhouse gases and pollution, potentially worsening climate impacts</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Transportation and Infrastructure</td>
      <td>Invested in green infrastructure and electric vehicle (EV) incentives, with targets for 50% EV sales by 2030</td>
      <td>Supported traditional infrastructure projects, with limited emphasis on green or sustainable technology</td>
      <td>Reversals could reduce EV adoption rates and limit green infrastructure, affecting long-term emission reductions</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>


What was Biden’s policy on climate change?

Biden has previously said that the biggest threat to human existence is climate change, which was a large part of his campaign for presidency alongside vice president Kamala Harris – where they both advocated to implement policies to fight against climate change and reduce emissions in the country once and for all.

On some fronts, Biden has held up to his promise – passing a revolutionary climate bill (better known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022) last summer that allocated a whopping $369 billion towards the transition to the use of clean energy by enticing Americans with a tax incentive for those who pick the more energy efficient option when shopping – such as by choosing an electric car over a gasoline powered one.

The Biden administration has also helped to protect forests in the country, most notably with the Tongass National Forest – as Biden repealed the Roadless Rule in order to prevent the state of Alaska from turning much of it into a commercial resort. As a result, the wildlife in the Tongass National Forest will be protected, biodiversity will be supported, and the vast amount of trees can help to absorb excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Most notably, Biden made sure to re-join the Paris Climate Agreement after Trump infamously withdrew the country from the well-known climate treaty – a prime selling point that Biden used during his campaign to demonstrate his dedication towards environmental reform. 

However, many are beginning to wonder if Biden has been as climate-forward as he promised he initially promised to be.

Why are Americans losing confidence in Biden’s stance on climate change?

During his campaign, Biden promised to reduce oil and gas drilling – something that Biden hasn’t satisfied many of his supporters with. 

For example, Biden approved of the Conocophillips’ Willow Project – an oil drilling project set to take place in the North Slope of Alaska, which has left many confused on where Biden really stands when it comes to climate change. In fact, Biden has approved of more oil drilling projects in his presidency than Trump did during his term. 

Still, Biden has remained adamant towards his commitment to climate change – stating that he has, “practically” declared climate change as a national emergency – angering many pressuring him to declare it an official emergency, which he has not.

Many advocates pressured Biden to declare it as a national emergency, calling Biden out on the operative word, “practically” – as they have pointed out Biden’s continued agency to partake in oil drilling projects.

In addition to this, as debates for the 2024 presidential election begin – climate change will be the subject of many of these debates, and Biden may be left to further scrutiny for the oil projects he has approved of while in office. For many, the only hope left for Biden to prove his loyalty to rectifying global warming would be to declare climate change as a national emergency while he is still serving his term as president. 

How would declaring a national emergency on climate change satisfy these advocates pressuring Biden?

What could Biden do if he declared climate change as a national emergency?

“Practically” declaring a climate emergency and officially declaring one are two completely different things. 

If Biden is to officially declare climate change as a national emergency, a lot of mitigation efforts could be put into full-swing at full-speed without the need to discuss it with parliament or require further approval.

Think of the president declaring a national emergency like unlocking a super power in a video game. Oftentimes, super powers in video games allow for extra lives, special powers, shortcuts, or the ability to be invincible. This is very similar to the powers granted by the President of the United States when one is to declare a national emergency of any kind.

Declaring a national emergency on climate change would unlock special abilities to be used by Biden – with a long list of climate change reform tactics that could be implemented almost immediately. For example, he could put a ban on crude oil exports, completely suspend offshore oil and gas drilling projects, and even move money from the military to be used for developing new renewable energy projects.

This isn’t some new, secret super power being brought to everyone’s attention now – the power to declare a national emergency has been an option for presidents ever since the National Emergencies Act of 1976. Even though a national emergency can only last a year, it can always be renewed until climate change would be considered under control.

There would be two major expectations on behalf of Biden if he were to declare an official climate emergency. 

One would be to use his new capabilities to make use of the Defense Production Act, which could accelerate the production of clean energy technologies and implement them throughout the country at the quicker pace it desperately needs. This is the same thing that Trump did during the pandemic in order to ensure vaccines would be made fast enough to deter the pandemic from spreading further. 

Second, he would be expected to pass more direct bills or pieces of climate legislation to make progress – as some victims of these climate crises, such as those in Hawaii, will not benefit from the green incentives expressed in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

President Joe Biden on Monday told survivors of Hawaii’s wildfires that the nation “grieves with you” and promised that the federal government will help “for as long as it takes” Maui to recover from damage caused by the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.

Biden arrived in Maui 13 days after fire ravaged the western part of the island, killing at least 115 people. Standing near a severely burned 150-year-old banyan tree, the president acknowledged the “overwhelming” devastation but said that Maui would persevere through the tragedy.


“Today it’s burned but it’s still standing," Biden said of the tree. "The tree survived for a reason. I believe it's a very powerful symbol of what we can and will do to get through this crisis.”


Biden and first lady Jill Biden got a close-up look at the devastation, seeing block after block of hollowed out homes and other structures, charred cars, singed trees and piles of debris as his motorcade wound through Lahaina. They spent most of their time in the historic town of 13,000 people that was virtually destroyed by the flames.

The Bidens lingered briefly on the tarmac after arriving at Kahului Airport to console Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, his wife Jaime Green and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation who greeted them. The president and first lady embraced each of their greeters before they boarded the Marine One helicopter for an aerial tour of the damage.

The Bidens also met with first responders and members of the community, and were briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response. They also participated in a blessing of his visit by island elders. They had interrupted a weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area to visit Lahaina.


Earlier Monday, the White House announced that Biden has named Bob Fenton, a regional leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be the chief federal response coordinator for the Maui wildfires, overseeing the long-term recovery. It will take years to rebuild Lahaina, where just about every building was obliterated.

“We’re going to rebuild the way the people of Maui want to rebuild,” said Biden, adding that his administration would focus on respecting sacred lands, cultures and traditions.

Dozens gathered on the streets of Lahaina to watch Biden's motorcade wind its way through the community. Some greeted the president enthusiastically, but others appeared to be waving their middle fingers at the motorcade. Other island residents held up signs urging Biden “to listen to the people of Lahaina” and to send more aid.

President Joe Biden visits Hawaii after wildfires

Despite the fact that Biden has allocated over $8 million to help Hawaiians address the immediate needs following the wildfires, many are adamant that more should be done – and to some degree, they aren’t wrong. A $700 check to someone who has just lost their home isn't going to prevent another wildfire in the future.

Many remain hopeful that following Biden’s visit to Maui, that seeing the damage the wildfires have caused with his own eyes will elicit a change of heart to declare a climate emergency.

👉 If climate change is declared as a national emergency, then it would make reducing emissions and protecting the environment the country’s number one priority – at least for the short term until the situation improves.

Biden has the complete power to declare climate change as a national emergency and do all of the above, and yet he hasn’t – what could be stopping him?

What is keeping Biden from declaring a national emergency on climate change?

This question is still yet to be answered, and is unlikely to be answered by Biden himself following his previous and most recent answer that he has already “practically declared” climate change as a national emergency. One can only theorize, but there are a few reasons why Biden may be hesitant to declare an official emergency on climate change.

A big reason for Biden not to declare an official emergency may have had to do with the 2024 presidential election, as prior to Kamala Harris taking his place – he was set to run against Trump again.

While declaring such an emergency would satisfy younger generations and environmental activists, it may dishearten other people that Biden is hoping to win a vote from. It’s logical that the president may be trying to play it safe, especially as headlines are already flooded with Trump’s recent indictment – and to avoid any massive press that could intensify the current Republican GOP debates. In short, it’s best to avoid extreme measures of any kind as the debates begin – and it could make sense that Biden wants to avoid a drastic divide on this subject matter.

Many avenues that Biden has focused on throughout this presidency may be overlooked in the long run, as declaring a national emergency may show that he only cares about climate change and not the other controversial issues in the country: such as healthcare, gun violence, and abortion. This is because declaring a national emergency on climate change would insinuate that funding for these other issues in the country would be depleted and even ignored in the immediate future.

Maybe it's for semantics, but those semantics could potentially cost Biden his re-election. 

Would a national emergency really curb the country’s emissions?

The U.S. is currently the second highest emitting country in the world behind China when it comes to emitting greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s fair to wonder – would declaring a national emergency really curb a problem the country has been facing for a long time?

The truth is declaring a national emergency on climate change wouldn’t curb the country’s emissions right away – but it would be a solid start. The best comparison is to compare a national emergency on climate change to the national emergency with the Covid-pandemic – things did not get better for several months, but the country was able to turn things around quicker than if an emergency hadn’t been declared. 

All eyes are on Biden to see if he declares climate change a national emergency, something the country is in dire need of, but with his term coming to a close and re-elections around the corner – those hopeful might be crossing their fingers and toes for quite some time.

If reading this article about what would happen if Biden declares climate change as a national emergency has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

Biden would be up for a challenge with climate change declared as a national emergency, just as companies like yours are probably every day, but don’t worry  – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you comply with all of the upcoming regulations relevant to your company. 

Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.

How has filing for taxes been made more difficult by global warming, and what could be done to allow tax filing deadlines to resume as usual, and tax filing deadlines accordingly and keep taxes from being implicated by global warming?

How Global Warming Impacts Filing Your Taxes On Time

Filing for your taxes every year is often stressful enough: with either needing to sit down and crunch the numbers yourself or recruit the help of an accountant to make sure you file your taxes on time every year. However, besides the difficulty of taxes in the U.S. themselves, something else is making them challenging to file on time – and that’s climate change.

How has filing for taxes, otherwise known as tax season, changed and been affected by the current state of global warming, how have states adjusted their tax filing deadlines accordingly, and what could be done in the future to prevent tax season from being affected by global warming?

Taxes in the U.S. are usually filed between the dates of January 1st and April 15th every calendar year – with IRS taxes being due before the end of April. State taxes may have a varied deadline, but they are never due before federal taxes are due. This time period at the start of the year is usually referred to as, “tax season”. 

👉 Americans, unlike most of the rest of people in the world, are obliged to file for both federal and state taxes every year – with the exception of some Americans who lived abroad who may be exempt from filing their state taxes. However, all Americans, regardless of where in the world they live – are always required to file for their taxes with the IRS.

Taxes in the U.S. can be subject to late fees if the taxes are filed late, and Americans can even get into trouble with the IRS if they fail to properly file their taxes. This year, 2023, Americans are able to file for their taxes from January 23rd to April 18th – with some exceptions if they were eligible to request for a filing extension. 

The IRS has officially opened the window to start filing your taxes. NBC’s Stephanie Ruhle breaks down changes some people may see this year.

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#taxes #irs #money

What to know before filing your 2023 taxes

When it comes to Americans filing for their taxes, Americans who are not self-employed will usually receive a form called a “W-2” from their employer – or a wage and tax statement that guides them through how to file their taxes. There are two choices to be had when choosing how to file for taxes in the U.S.: to do your taxes “by hand” and fill out the annual federal and state tax forms by yourself, or to consult the help of a tax software provider such as H&R Block or TurboTax to file your taxes for you.

In the world of social media, the number of Americans opting to use tax software over doing their own taxes is growing – with up to 46% of Americans using tax software systems. 

👉 Taxes are clearly complicated enough: how could something as catastrophic as climate change make them even worse?

How could global warming have an effect on taxes?

It doesn’t seem like global warming could affect something as long-standing and mathematical as filing for your annual taxes, but it turns out that natural disasters play a huge part in businesses and individuals and their ability to file their taxes on time. 

This is because of the natural disasters and other extreme weather patterns that have been caused due to climate change.  

Weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and storms can cause damage to business or individual property – causing those companies or people to become preoccupied with dealing with the damage repairs necessary instead of being able to focus their full attention on their annual taxes. 

As climate change continues to provoke more natural disasters that cause these insurance disasters, the IRS has been forced to allow for more tax filing extensions to allow businesses and people to deal with their repairs calmly before attempting to tackle their taxes.

👉 Natural disasters are becoming more common across the country, too – with up to 40% of Americans living in areas that are subject to a weather emergency event of some kind. However, many of the southern states that reside alongside the Gulf of Mexico remain the most vulnerable – and also the most likely to adjust their deadlines for filing for taxes. 

The table below will explain the general process forAmerican business to file for taxes and the appropriate deadlines:

<table border="1" cellpadding="10">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Step</th>
      <th>Description</th>
      <th>Deadline</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>1. Gather Financial Records</td>
      <td>Collect all necessary financial documents, including income statements, expense receipts, payroll records, and previous tax filings.</td>
      <td>Ongoing throughout the year; final review before filing date.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>2. Choose the Correct Tax Forms</td>
      <td>Select the appropriate tax forms based on the business structure (e.g., Form 1120 for corporations, Form 1065 for partnerships, Schedule C for sole proprietors).</td>
      <td>Prior to tax filing deadline (usually by January to prepare).</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>3. Calculate Income and Deductions</td>
      <td>Determine the total business income and allowable deductions, including expenses related to payroll, utilities, rent, and business operations.</td>
      <td>Ongoing; finalise calculations before filing.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>4. Estimate Quarterly Taxes (if required)</td>
      <td>For businesses not subject to withholding taxes, estimate and pay quarterly taxes to avoid underpayment penalties.</td>
      <td>April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15 of the following year.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>5. File the Tax Return</td>
      <td>Complete and file the appropriate tax form either electronically or by mail with the IRS and any required state agencies.</td>
      <td>March 15 for partnerships and S corporations, April 15 for C corporations and sole proprietors.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>6. Pay Any Taxes Owed</td>
      <td>Submit payment for any taxes owed, either electronically or by check, to avoid late payment penalties and interest.</td>
      <td>Same as filing deadline (March 15 or April 15).</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>7. Apply for an Extension (if needed)</td>
      <td>If more time is needed to file, submit Form 7004 for an extension for corporations and partnerships, or Form 4868 for sole proprietors.</td>
      <td>March 15 for partnerships and S corporations, April 15 for C corporations and sole proprietors.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>8. File State Taxes</td>
      <td>File state tax returns, which may have different deadlines and requirements depending on the state.</td>
      <td>Varies by state, typically around the same time as federal deadlines.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>


How has climate change affected Americans filing for taxes so far?

Several states have already delayed the deadline for residents to file their taxes due to natural disasters provoked by climate change.

💡 For instance, residents of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee have until July 31st to file their taxes due to tornadoes and storms that have caused long-term damage. States that have experienced flooding such as California, Georgia, and Alabama are also eligible for a tax extension until May 15th. 

Overall, the IRS has allowed for the delayed filing of taxes for the past two years – with now parts of 15 states having qualified for a tax filing extension and even up to 27 states being granted momentary tax relief of some kind. These deadlines for taxes are only expected to get longer as climate change continues to persist. 

Residents of these states eligible for these disaster tax relief extensions are allotted an additional 120 days to file their taxes without penalties or being subject to interest rates. If the natural disaster causes more serious damage, longer extensions for filing taxes can be granted – as these weather implications have shifted priorities. In other words, the IRS is more concerned with ensuring that these taxpayers put their available financial resources towards rebuilding their businesses or homes as opposed to paying their taxes on time. 

👉 Besides causing delays, extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have also made it more difficult to ensure paperwork and records remain safe (whether physically or electronically) – and the loss of this otherwise safe and stored information can result in delays in filing taxes as well.

How is climate change changing taxes in the U.S.?

Even though the majority of taxes are filed in the U.S. within the first quarter of the year, with the harsh deadline for taxes at the end of April having been implemented for decades – climate change is starting to have an effect on when taxes are filed. 

💡 While many Americans have easily surpassed the previous late April deadline to file their taxes before, it is becoming more common for taxes to be filed later – causing delays in reimbursements and payments to the federal government to be processed. 

Basically, climate change is making tax season, an already long and dreadful process – even more tedious and prolonged. 

Many Americans have grown accustomed to the traditional tax season, but climate change is changing the annual date for which taxes are due – making it harder for Americans to plan when to set aside the time to file for their taxes. This change in schedule can result in even more unfiled taxes, and cause disruption and disorganisation to the tax system as a whole. 

More people requesting extensions to file their taxes means more IRS digging into the financial situations of American households and businesses to ensure that the request for the extension to file is legitimate. 

👉 Climate change is overall making taxes in the U.S. more complicated and less punctual – something that is necessary to ensure a system as complicated as filing for federal and state taxes in the U.S. is done in an efficient manner. 

Will filing for taxes become more difficult under the Trump administration?

The Trump administration is known to prioritise the economy over climate change, but seeing as these two issues intersect – it’s difficult to predict how the Trump administration will handle delayed taxes as a result of natural disasters. 

Here are a few components to consider between the two administrations:

Project 2025 – A radical right-wing movement to interweave Christian values into the United States government, Project 2025 could disrupt the current systems intact by the U.S. government – including the IRS and how taxes are filed.

 Changes to the IRS & Funding – While the Biden administration has increased IRS funding, Republicans are known to detest the IRS – seeking to abolish the program altogether. This could very well be done under Project 2025 and the Trump administration, making it even more challenging for businesses to files their taxes past their due dates – even following a natural disaster.

Policy Shifts & Previous Actions – The Trump administration allowed for more lenient approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as by provided stimulus checks to help boost the economy. It’s possible that the Trump administration may allow for delayed tax returns in the event it could have an impact on the U.S. economy. 

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) – The Trump administration tried to simplify tax codes with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which could be implemented once more once he is inaugurated in January 2025. This could help late tax filers to enjoy a simpler process when filing their delayed taxes.

👉 Ultimately, there isn’t bound to be much change to the process for filing delayed taxes – but Trump’s administration may employ other policies which could affect resources and exempted penalties for filing taxes late, especially as the administration has never prioritised climate change as an imminent threat to the global economy.

Do U.S. taxes themselves contribute to climate change?

Taxes, on their own, do not contribute to climate change – but the way they are set up and how the federal or state governments choose to impose taxes could have an impact on the environment and climate change moving forward. 

💡 This is precisely why Americans are trying to be given tax incentives to switch to the more environmentally friendly choice for a product or service – as depicted with Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 passed last summer.

For instance, if the government chooses to place a heavy tax on finite resources like oil or coal – it could help to encourage businesses to transition to the use of clean energy and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, taxes could be a way to encourage more sustainable practices that could actually help to deter future predicaments (such as how taxes have been affected) by climate change. 

Taxes are also used to help fund measures that are used to help fight climate change: such as by financing infrastructure upgrades, disaster relief programs, and research for renewable energy development. 

👉 Ultimately, taxes themselves do not cause climate change – but they can be used as a means to an end to help persuade businesses and individuals alike to shift to more renewable energy sources that can help to reduce the impact of climate change on things like filing for taxes.

What could be done to prevent taxes from being impacted from climate change?

In a perfect world, the answer to ensuring that taxes are to no longer be affected by climate change would mean the world kick’s their environmental game up a notch and that we would make collective progress in reducing global surface temperatures worldwide. 

However, while we still work towards that globally collective, imperative goal – there are some other ways that businesses and individuals alike can prevent natural disasters due to climate change from impacting them from filing for their annual taxes. 

Companies that aim to create a more resilient supply chain would not only benefit from an economic and environmental perspective, but it could help all areas of their business to remain durable even when disaster strikes – such as a tornado or thunderstorm that impacts the financial success of their business, and ergo filing for their taxes.

Businesses that choose to invest in climate resilience measures such as infrastructure can help to improve the durability of their offices or surrounding roads: all of which can help to prevent damage from a natural disaster, and a subsequent delay in filing for taxes. 

Both governments and businesses should keep finding new ways to encourage sustainable practices. This can help prevent the predicament of a natural disaster crisis from impacting taxes in the future, while also reducing global emissions and making the planet a better place to live.

It isn’t all up to the business or individual filing for their taxes – governments should try to help where they can by creating contingency plans that can help people file their taxes in the midst of a climate change crisis. 

Governments Should Aim to Diversify Revenue Streams

Again, the government can help to reduce the impact climate change has on filing for your annual taxes – such as by diversifying their revenue streams to decrease their dependency on taxes to be paid by businesses across the country. Examples include seeking revenue from grants, public or private partnerships, or general fees.

In the end, ensuring that taxes are no longer to be impacted by climate change requires effort and varied mitigation tactics on behalf of both the governments and the potential tax payer. However, if we really want to prevent climate change from impacting taxes in the long-term – the best solution is to get to the root of the problem and tackle global warming itself.

If reading this article about how global warming impacts filing for your taxes on time has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

Managing your company's carbon emissions in the midst of climate change can become difficult to manage, and the stress of tax season can make it even worse – but fear not. Greenly is here to help! Book a demo with one of our specialists today to see how we can help you get started in your climate journey.

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Global Food Waste in 2024

Global food waste is a cross-cutting issue that starts during agricultural production, available food supply, and continues all of the way to the landfill.

Over 30% of food is lost or wasted each year. This number is even more striking, given the large number of hungry people in the world. Wasted food is not only inefficient, it's a social justice issue – as all the food wasted could be used to serve the food recovery hierarchy and prevent perfectly good food from being wasted.

💡 Global food waste has an enormous environmental impact, too – as food waste is a huge source of potent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and wasted natural resources. Therefore, reducing food waste and encouraging others to store food properly could help to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, establish food security, and encourage healthy food systems.

In the U.K. alone, Brits waste 9.5 million tonnes every year – making it challenging to sell imperfect produce, excess produce, feed hungry people, and avoid the environmental impacts and improve post harvest handling.

However, this isn't to say people are ignoring the problem of preventing food waste entirely. Many large businesses, startups, and nonprofits see the issue of food waste as an opportunity. Billions of dollars and calories of food are wasted each year, and the benefits of this value can be recovered – such as with fundraisers for food waste to encourage customers to prevent wasting food and donating more food to charities for every item purchased.

In this article, we'll explain what food waste is, how we can reduce wasted food, and why it's important to contribute to prevent food waste and contribute to the food waste challenge and encourage others to take part in reducing wasted food.

When we talk about food waste, we may think of the food we throw away after cooking meals, failing to freeze food, tossing perishable foods because they've gone bad, or the uneaten food from our tables at fine dining establishments.

👉 However, the sources of food waste are far more varied than this. Food waste includes lost or discarded food at all stages of the food system – including failing to eat leftovers, donating edible food to food banks, and throwing edible food scraps that can be used for stock or garnishes away.

Here are some important definitions related to food waste:

The term “wasted food” refers to any food that is not used for its intended use and must be “managed.”

“Wasted food” is the term used by the US EPA instead of “food waste” to express the value that can be recovered through alternative uses.

To properly implement tactics for food waste prevention as an effort to cutting global food waste, alternative uses for the food must be identified.

Wasted food comes from a wide variety of sources:

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                <td><strong>Unsold food from local markets or other retail outlets such as produce food</strong></td>
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                <td><strong>Plate waste from restaurants</strong></td>
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                <td><strong>Prepared, perfectly edible food that has not been eaten</strong></td>
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                <td><strong>Trimmings like food scraps from food preparation in restaurants, cafeterias, or homes; and by-products of food and beverage processing</strong></td>
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What is the difference between food waste and food loss?

There are a few different categories under the umbrella of wasted food.

👉 “Food loss” refers to uneaten agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. It occurs during the food production and distribution stage. It is also caused by either a reduction in the quantity or quality of food.

This may occur due to various reasons. For instance, there may be disruptions in the supply chain due to fluctuating supply and demand or spoilage due to adverse weather conditions.

👉 “Food waste,” on the other hand, refers to edible food that is intended for human consumption, but instead gets discarded or expires. This can occur in many different situations during preparation, sales, or food service. It includes plate waste, spoiled food, and discarded peels and rinds.

Rich countries waste the most, as do industrialised countries – who often have a significant impact on this food loss and waste.

“Food loss and waste” is a term used to define the sum of both types of inefficiencies from unused food in the food system. Ultimately, this term helps researchers clearly explain the broad scope of their studies.

Is there inedible or unavoidable food waste? 

Some food byproducts are inedible such as bones, egg shells, or rough fruit and vegetable peels. However, the conventions for using these different parts of food vary from culture to culture. This makes it hard to quantify how much wasted food is truly unavoidable if wasted food is not consumable.

Researchers tend to include all types of food waste in their estimations, as it is better to find ways to prevent these materials from reaching the landfill. Sometimes, the inedible byproducts of food can be used as feed stock for other products and help the supply chain of agriculture organization and improve production processes.

Global waste: what is the share of food waste? 

Over a third of all food produced (around 2.5 billion tons) is lost or wasted each year. One third of this occurs in the food production stage. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) estimates this wasted food is worth $230 billion.

👉 Researchers estimate the lost food calories from food waste amount to roughly 24% of the total available food calories. To put this in perspective, the UN reports that about a third of the global population, mostly in developing countries and low income countries, didn't have enough access to food in 2020–an increase of 320 million people from the previous year.

The trend is increasing, too. The level of food wasted globally is expected to rise by another third by 2030 – making it more important than ever to buy only what we need and to develop local government incentives to feed families in need.

The amount of good food we waste would fit into 23 million fully-loaded 40-tonne trucks.
 
And if these trucks were lined up bumper-to-bumper, then the queue would be long enough to circle the Earth seven times.
 
Why do we waste so much food and what can we do about it? The BBC's Aaron Heslehurst explains.

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How can how we solve the planet's food waste problem? - BBC News

What about the United Kingdoms' food waste?

Despite the fact that 8.4 million people in the U.K. qualify as being subject to food poverty, food is still wasted in the United Kingdom on a colossal scale – with the amount of food waste in the country being able to fill Wembley Stadium 9 times!

👉 In fact, the average person in the U.K. wastes nearly 70kg of food every year –  contributing to the whopping £14 billion worth of food wasted in the United Kingdom annually. 

In total, food waste in the U.K. could feed around 30 million people every year. On the upside, businesses in the U.K. are encouraged to fight against food waste via anaerobic digestion, composting, donation, fertiliser, and to support environmental costs like wastewater treatment.

Could the remaining two-thirds be transformed into profitable or less damaging activities in order to prevent greenhouse gases, improve habits for buying food, boost the global economy, and improve the way local farmers cultivate fresh produce?

Food waste may seem harmless as any other biodegradable substance, but the when it rots – it releases methane emissions into the atmosphere without proper management. Understanding the consequences of food waste can help us better address the problem and help prevent wasted food.

👉 In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimated that 1.3 gigatons of edible food is wasted each year, and this releases 3.3 gigatons of CO₂ equivalent. This estimate doesn't include land use change, either, which would put the figure even higher.

Research compiled by Our World In Data estimates that food waste accounts for about 6% of the world's total emissions. Fro this 6%, about 2/3 of the emissions is a result of how much food is lost, and the remaining 1/3 is from food waste.

There are some unexpected causes for the food that gets wasted. It's understandable that people don't finish large portions of food at restaurants on a retail and consumer level, but some of the less obvious reasons for food waste are due to agricultural processes, food safety standards, and consumer preferences.

👉 Perhaps you recall the reports of Kenyan farmers losing their crops to locusts in 2020. The last time they swarmed at such a level in 2003-2005, it resulted in crop damage of $2.5 billion. Locusts are mainly killed by pest infestations, so improving access to pesticides is one way to reduce food loss and help smallholder farmers ensure discarded food ends.

Apart from natural causes, personal preferences also contribute to wasted food. Research shows that produce buyers avoid “ugly produce.” In fact, one fifth of edible produce that has surface blemishes, grows in unfamiliar shapes, or has unique coloration gets discarded from grocery stores. This means that high income countries are contributing to food waste in earlier stages at a retail level, and that food and agriculture organization cannot mitigate this food loss.

⚠️ Climate change also contributes to food losses and lack of food security. It makes growing and harvesting cycles less predictable. Nonseasonal frost, early spring, and a range of other climatic shifts are significantly impacting both the prices farmers set for their crops as well as their ability to predict the right time to plant and harvest.  

These issues have a domino effect as they interact with supply and demand issues. Product may prematurely spoil due to delayed transport, orders, or poor storage facilities availability.  

Also, sometimes well-intended regulations to protect people from food safety risks have the unintended consequence of taking edible food off the shelves too soon – even when the shelf life for goods kept in food pantries can be kept a lot longer than as directed by the printed date.

These are just a few of many wide-ranging reasons food loss and waste occurs.

Sustainable food management reduces the unfortunate waste and losses in the food system and food chain. Careful planning and coordination between governments, food producers, sellers, and consumers can reduce the food waste dilemma.

💡 In fact, one of the biggest challenges is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030. This will ultimately help low income countries, supply chains, chronic poverty, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The sustainable management of food uses a bird's eye view approach to avoid the knock on effects of waste in the food system

Definition of sustainable management of food

Sustainable management of food considers the food waste problem from the systemic perspective. Think of the many steps when waste can occur in the life cycle of food: agriculture, harvesting, food production, sales, food preparation, consumption, and finally disposal – perhaps even due to food spoilage.

👉 By managing each of these steps and considering how they interconnect, the sustainable management of food reduces inefficiencies.

Food waste can occur at each stage, whether it's from the overuse of natural resources or unsold produce. The sustainable management of food can reduce costs for food purchasers and consumers, while bridging the needs of food-poor communities and unused food resources.  

Even though governments are often key players in the sustainable management of food, businesses and consumers have an important role to play as well.

Sustainable food management is important in terms of discarded food, and why it is discarded in the first place. Therefore, it is important to recover the untapped value of wasted food – as this preserves natural resources, prevents food access inefficiencies, and even provides businesses cost-savings advantages.

‍Here are a few more reasons why sustainable food management is important:

Here are some ways businesses can benefit from addressing the problem of food waste in their organizations.

By minimizing unnecessary food expenditures, you can reduce your overall food budget. Commit to monitoring and track progress of the amount of food wasted each month is critical for trimming away excess spending and food inventory.

Sometimes waste management services charge more for food waste. By lowering the amount of food waste heading to the landfill, you can save on your overall landfill expense. Contact your waste management to see if this applies in your area.

Donating food to non-profit charities that benefit people with food insecurity can help reduce food waste, feed the poor, and lower your tax payment.

All of these actions can be tracked and recorded in your corporate social responsibility (CSR) report each year, which communicates the non-financial value of your business.

It's ironic that so much food is wasted in spite of a serious need for access to fresh food in vulnerable communities. Luckily, numerous organizations are working to solve this issue to help prepare meals and provide leftover food to locals in need. By partnering with nonprofits, your organization can reduce the level of edible food that goes to landfills.  

People who are in need of these meals include

Children – This includes kids that can't afford school lunches. There are programs such as the World Food Programme that collects donated food sometimes provides school lunches from donated food.

Unemployed – People in need of employment who could serve the community by composting, sorting salvageable food, and distributing excess food. Over 36,000 people work in the food recycling industry in the US.

Disabled & Ill – Under-employed veterans, elderly, sick, disabled, mentally ill, and other disadvantaged people who cannot afford to buy food and depend on donations.    

Rotting food in landfills is a huge source of methane pollution. Rather than cycle nutrients into the soil, as in the case of compost, landfills simply trap and contain waste. On the one hand, this prevents contamination of the water supply, but on the other, it creates potent GHG emissions.

Some landfills are designed to trap methane and recycle it as biogas. However, not all are technically equipped to do so. In this case, the methane is released into the atmosphere.

This is a serious problem for climate change, because methane is a greenhouse gas that heats the atmosphere up to 80 times faster than carbon dioxide.

Compost facilities and operations can effectively avoid this issue and effectively transform food waste into nutrient-rich soil useful for top soil in gardening or landscaping. Some areas like San Francisco even have compost collection systems offered as part of their waste management system.

💡 By eliminating unnecessary food consumption, companies preserve natural resources used in food production, as well. This includes the water, gas, fertilizer, pesticides, and any other inputs used in food production.

Canadian entrepreneurs are getting creative in trying to solve the world's food waste problem. CBC News spoke to several businesses to see how they're developing creative solutions and technology to reduce the tons of food that end up in landfills.

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Canadians get creative in solving food waste problem

What can your company do to fight against food waste?

Your company can help fight inadequate climate control and develop creative solutions to mitigate food waste within your business. 

💡 However, it takes some planning – meaning that businesses hoping to reduce food waste should make it a commitment. This means identifying the ways people waste food at your workplace and on a household level then setting goals to reduce the impact.

After that, consider ways your company can close the food waste loop and create value. Here are a few strategies:

Composting food waste into valuable topsoil.

Donating to local food banks may benefit from food donations.

Collecting the food waste and transforming it into biogas.

👉 Partnering with a food waste start-up as a supplier is another great approach. The company Fruitleather in Rotterdam, for instance, makes vegan leather from unsold fruit.  

Rather than only troubleshooting the excess food in your waste stream, consider this problem from the demand side. Maximizing food purchasing by only ordering what will get consumed is another way to cut back on food waste. 

Overall, global food waste is a serious issue that impacts not only how many meals are available to feed our growing global population – but will continue to impact our planet as a whole until we take action against food losses and our environmental impact.

Stephanie Safdie

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