2024 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit
June 11-13, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Convention Center
Nicolás Díaz
Senior Program Manager for Waste and Circular Economy
Global Methane Hub
Bio:
Nicolás Díaz is an experienced professional focused on addressing climate change and advancing a sustainable society through consulting, research, and coordinating global, multistakeholder efforts. As the Senior Program Manager for Waste and Circular Economy at the Global Methane Hub, he coordinates the development, evaluation, and implementation of a thriving portfolio reducing global methane emissions in the waste sector.
Before his role in the Hub, Nicolás led research on organic waste management in Chile and the U.S, contributing to passing WA's Organics Materials bill (HB1799) which set the goal of reducing final disposal of organics by 75 percent by 2030 and preventing at least 20 percent of edible food from being disposed of by 2025. Nicolás holds a Master's of Public Administration from the University of Washington and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the P. Catholic University of Chile.
Schedule
Wednesday, June 12
11:00am - 12:00pm
Methane Matters: Merging Climate Strategies with Food Waste Solutions
Breakout Session 1
As methane takes center stage in climate strategy discussions, the GHG contributions of the food system — and food waste in particular — have come under scrutiny. Slashing methane, a shorter-lived but potent greenhouse gas, could have cooling effects in the next decade, acting as an “emergency brake” for the climate crisis. Policymakers have honed in on landfill management systems that capture methane from decomposing food, but food waste prevention strategies would not only keep food out of landfills in the first place but also avoid the 93% of food waste emissions that are generated before food becomes waste. Join us in exploring new food waste and methane emission insights, how the food system fits into climate and methane strategy, and specific steps that will act to reduce methane quickly.