According to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), large meat and dairy companies are doing far too little to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the organisation says that the European Commission’s plans to extend carbon offset schemes for agriculture give them a free pass to continue polluting.
Major responsibility
The IATP examined the emissions and climate plans of 35 of the largest meat and dairy companies in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. These include Nestlé, Danone, Tönnies and FrieslandCampina. According to the IATP, those 35 companies jointly accounted for 7 % of all greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union for 2018.
These companies’ total emissions rival those of fossil fuel giants, Shefali Sharma states. The European director of IATP is disgruntled, stating that “they can continue their practices with impunity.” In particular, the companies are said to be using accounting tricks and greenwashing to divert attention from the fundamental changes needed to reduce emissions. They also shift much of the cost and risk to the farmers in their supply chains, Sharma says.
Seven of the ten companies tracked over time saw their climate footprint grow between 2016 and 2018. Emissions from Irish beef producer ABP rose by 45 % and those from German company Tönnies, which supplies Aldi, by 30 %, the report states.
Christmas present
The IATP also points the finger at the European Commission. In a leaked draft, the Commission outlines a framework for expanding the controversial carbon offset schemes for agriculture. Through the Renewable Energy Directive, Europe also wants to increase the production of biogas from livestock manure.
“The European Commission will be handing big meat and dairy corporations an early Christmas present if it throws its weight — and taxpayers’ money — behind dubious soil carbon offsets and continues to promote biogas from industrial livestock facilities as a sustainable fuel”, Sharma said. “The Commission should stop financing industrial agriculture and support the transition to sustainable agroecological farming practices based on less and better meat.”
