IATP: Climate impact of European meat and dairy companies on a par with fossil fuel giants

"Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Europe 's largest meat and dairy companies continue to rise, according to a new report released on Monday, which also found many companies polluting the environment with impunity.

 

    The Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy (IATP) notes in its report that many large companies do not have climate-related plans or targets, and that some companies that have developed such plans raise concerns about so-called ecological manipulation, so governments should tighten regulation.

 

    The study assessed 35 of the largest beef, pork, poultry and dairy companies headquartered in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and Switzerland. Their potential climate plans and GHG emissions related to their supply chains, in particular the cattle chains in these chains, have been examined.

 

    The analysis showed that these companies were responsible for 7% of the European Union's GHG emissions in 2018, and that the emissions of the top 20 companies exceed the GHG emissions of the Netherlands, according to a report by a non-profit organization.

 

    "The climate impact of Europe's major meat and dairy companies competes with the impact of fossil fuel giants, but they continue to operate with impunity," said Shefali Sharma, director of IATP Europe.

 

    "Some companies that have climate plans use accounting tricks, eco-manipulation and dubious offsets to divert attention from the fundamental changes needed to reduce emissions, and pass on many of the costs and risks to farmers in their supply chains."

 

    Of the 10 companies assessed in the study, the climate impact of seven companies increased from 2016 to 2018.

 

    Irish beef producer ABP emissions rose by 45% and German Tonnies, which supplies Aldi, by 30%

 

    In the dairy sector, emissions from the French companies Danone and Lactalis increased by 15% and 30% respectively between 2015 and 2017, according to the study. "