NGO condemns green make-up by major European meat and dairy producers – 12/12/2021

PARIS, December 13, 2021 (AFP) – Greenhouse gas emissions from European meat and dairy giants have risen despite the climate crisis, a non-governmental organization denounced on Monday (13) in a report criticizing the green make-up of polluting sectors.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) report analyzes 35 of the largest companies in the sector in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom and Switzerland, examining climate plans and emissions from their supply chains.

In his analysis, in 2018 these companies were responsible for 7% of the EU’s emissions and the 20 largest companies’ emissions exceed those of the Netherlands.

The report focuses specifically on ten large companies that have more or less specific climate goals.

The results indicate that in seven of them, absolute emissions increased within two years.

In the meat sector, for example, between 2016 and 2018, Irish ABP emissions increased by 45% and German Tonnies increased by 30%.

In dairy products, from 2015 to 2017, the French companies Danone and Lactalis saw their emissions increase by 15% and 30%, respectively.

“The carbon footprint of European dairy and meat giants competes with that of fossil energy giants as they continue to operate with complete impunity,” warned Shefali Sharma, European Director of the IATP, in a statement.

Of the 20 companies analyzed, only four (Arla, Danone, FrieslandCampina and Nestlé) announced total supply chain emissions and only three (Nestlé, FrieslandCampina and ABP) announced their intention to reduce their total emissions, according to the text.

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