Heating the Planet: Big Meat and Dairy’s Big Emissions

Heating the Planet: Big Meat and Dairy’s Big Emissions

Heating the Planet: Big Meat and Dairy’s Big Emissions

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Download the full report (with methodology annex)
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Roasting the Planet: Big Meat and Dairy’s Big Emissions, a new report co-authored by Foodrise, Friends of the Earth U.S., Greenpeace Nordic, and Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, reveals the colossal, yet often overlooked, climate footprint of Big Meat and Dairy.

What’s the problem?

The global livestock sector is estimated to be responsible for between 12% and 19% of total human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making it one of the world’s highest emitting sectors.

This new report presents the latest global assessment of the meat and dairy industry’s outsized climate impact, estimating the GHG emissions generated by 45 of the world’s major meat and dairy processing companies in 2023/22.

The findings make it clear: cutting fossil fuel emissions alone isn’t enough. Tackling emissions from Big Meat and Dairy is also essential to limit global heating, at a time when every fraction of a degree counts.

Key findings

  • These 45 Big Meat and Dairy companies combined emitted an estimated 1 billion tonnes of GHG emissions in 2023/22 (CO2eq). If they were a country, they would be the world’s ninth highest GHG-emitting nation. In fact, the companies’ combined emissions are estimated to be more than those reported for Saudi Arabia, reportedly the second largest oil producer in the world.
  • The methane emissions from these 45 companies combined are estimated to exceed the reported methane emissions of all the EU27 countries and the UK combined in 2023.
  •  The top five emitters emerging from this analysis combined — JBS, Marfrig, Tyson, Minerva, and Cargill — emitted an estimated 496 million tonnes of of greenhouse gasses  in 2023 (in CO2eq), more than reported for Chevron, Shell, or BP. The estimated emissions of these five companies combined account for nearly half (48%) of the estimated GHG emissions from the total of 45 meat and dairy companies analysed.
  • JBS, here estimated to be the world’s highest-emitting meat corporation, alone accounts for nearly one quarter (23%) of all estimated greenhouse gas emissions from these 45 meat and dairy companies. Greenpeace Nordic has estimated in an earlier publication that JBS emits more methane than reported for ExxonMobil and Shell combined.

Solutions

Research repeatedly shows that dietary changes in high-income nations are the single biggest option for cutting food system emissions that we have. An estimated 83% of global meat production and 77% of global meat consumption occurs in high and upper-middle income countries, compared to just 2% in low-income countries, according to a recent research paper. 

Moving to a predominantly plant-rich diet — the EAT-Lancet diet — in high-income nations would reduce food emissions by an estimated 61% and save an area roughly the size of the EU. Were this area returned to nature, the land could draw down around 14 years of global agricultural emissions. To achieve this, we will also need to hold Big Meat and Dairy companies to account.

Policy recommendations

We recommend that policymakers:

  • Introduce mandatory reporting of key industry data for Big Meat and Dairy companies to ensure transparency and accountability.
  • Set binding targets and emissions reduction plans for an absolute reduction of national agriculture GHG emissions.
  • Introduce regulation to ensure that Big Meat and Dairy companies’ environmental and social costs currently paid by the public are instead paid by the polluting company according to the “polluter pays” principle.
  • Design a just transition to support: a shift away from large-scale animal agriculture (including animal feed) towards nature restoration and ecological agriculture systems that centre plant-based food production rooted in agroecology and food sovereignty principles that adequately support farmers, workers, and citizens; and produce healthy and nutritious foods. This should include:
    • Subsidy reform to support this just transition.
    • Reform to procurement of food for public institutions such as schools, government facilities, and hospitals.
    • Reform to retail and catering business policies.
    • Divestment of public pension funds and multilateral development banks from Big Meat and Dairy companies.

What the experts say

Martin Bowman, Senior Policy and Campaigns Manager at Foodrise, said: 

These profit-hungry Big Meat and Dairy companies are shamelessly driving the climate crisis through their addiction to industrial-scale mass production of meat and dairy. This is despite crystal-clear evidence that to limit climate catastrophe, a shift to healthy, sustainable and plant-rich diets is essential, alongside some much smaller-scale animal farming. 

That’s why we’re sounding the alarm on Big Meat and Dairy’s sky-high emissions, which closely rival Big Oil and exceed those of entire countries. We urgently need to see policymakers step up to take on this powerful industry through both taxation and regulation. This is absolutely crucial for the health of people and planet, and to fund a just transition to healthy food which is sustainably farmed.

Shefali Sharma, Global Agriculture Policy Expert for Greenpeace Germany, said: 

As governments head to COP30 in the heart of the Amazon — an ecosystem devastated by global meat giants — scientists are clear that a failure to bring down agricultural emissions will torpedo us well past the Paris 1.5°C red line. Farms that restore nature and communities, not corporate-controlled factories, should be at the center of our food system. It’s not too late for governments to commit to such a transition in their climate plans coming out of this COP.

Kari Hamerschlag, Deputy Director of Food and Agriculture at Friends of the Earth, said: 

We cannot be fooled by shameless greenwashing by Big Meat and Dairy companies. The numbers are stark. Meat and dairy giants are responsible for a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane. If governments are serious about meeting climate goals, they can no longer ignore the climate impact of industrial meat and dairy. Binding agricultural emissions targets, full supply-chain reporting, and support for a just transition toward agroecology and more plant-based food systems are essential.

Ben Lilliston, Director of Climate Strategies at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said:

Despite years of pledges to reduce emissions, major meat and dairy companies continue to recklessly drive climate-polluting production systems. It’s time for governments to step up and lead, with aligned regulations and public spending designed to cut emissions and support farmers in a transition toward more sustainable, lower-emitting farming systems.

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