The food and beverage sector is both a significant driver of global climate change, and among the most adversely impacted by climate change. Food and beverage companies, therefore, have a major role to play in reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and in ensuring that the long-term mitigation goal established in Paris at COP 21 is translated into action.
This briefing highlights the need for food and beverage companies to set science-based emission reduction targets across their operations and supply chains. It emphasises the importance of addressing emissions associated with the production of agricultural raw materials, which constitutes the largest part of the companies’ GHG footprint. The briefing presents the main findings from an independent evaluation of the GHG reduction commitments made by General Mills and Kellogg, and sets out emerging good practice for food and beverage companies to establish and implement robust science-based GHG reduction targets.