The global food system is responsible for as much as 40% of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. The investor advocacy group Ceres has tracked whether the 50 largest North American food and agriculture companies have set targets to lower their emissions and whether doing so has actually resulted in lower emissions.
The emissions from food and agriculture companies are grouped into three so-called scopes. Scope 1 are emissions from a company’s direct operations. Scope 2 are emissions from its energy use. Scope 3 are emissions from a company’s supply chain: from the farmers who grow crops, raise cattle, and otherwise provide necessary items for a company’s final products. In the food industry, the scope 3 category is responsible for about 90% of overall emissions.
Of the 50 food companies studied, 23 reduced their scope 1 and scope 2 emissions over the past 2 years, but only 12 reduced their scope 3 emissions. Companies have more control over their scope 1 and scope 2 emissions.
Reducing scope 3 emissions is more difficult. And most companies haven’t set scope 3 reduction targets.
The findings of the study suggest that reducing scope 3 emissions is especially difficult for companies whose supply chains are linked to carbon-intensive commodities, like meat, or crops linked to deforestation or land-use change, both of which result in increased emissions.
In March, the Securities and Exchange Commission finalized rules requiring companies to disclose their climate risk to regulators, increasing the visibility of the food industry emissions issue.
**********
Web Links
North America’s Biggest Food Companies Are Struggling to Lower Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Photo, posted October 13, 2011, courtesy of the United Soybean Board via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
