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Scientists propose raising frozen food temperature to cut emissions: A team of researchers, led by the University of Birmingham, suggest increasing the temperature of frozen food by 3°C to significantly cut emissions, according to a new report (pdf). The increase in frozen food temperature from -18°C to -15°C could reduce carbon emissions by 17.7 mn metric tons a year, equivalent to taking 3.8 mn cars off the road.
The details: The report states that the current standard of -18°C was set 93 years ago and is outdated, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and food loss. The researchers claim that freezing food at -15°C is perfectly safe and would make it easier to freeze food at the point of harvest in hotter climates and to maintain the cold chain during transportation.
Behind the work: The research was supported by DP World, which has launched an industry-wide coalition to explore the feasibility of this change, named Join the Move to -15°C. The coalition aims to support collaboration across the industry to find ways to achieve the sector’s net-zero goal by 2050. DP World has been boosting its decarbonization efforts, signing an agreement with the International Renewable Energy Agency in November to collaborate on scaling up the use of renewable-based fuels and electrifying the shipping and ports sectors. The port operator also halved CO2 emissions from its UAE operations this year by accessing renewable power from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
