Despite the climate crisis, greenhouse gas emissions from European meat and dairy giants continue to rise, with an NGO report on Monday condemning the so-called “greenwash” of particularly polluted areas.

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In this report, which calls on governments to “regulate agribusiness”, the Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy (IATP) examines 35 major companies operating in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, as well as their climate and emissions. Projects that cover the entire supply chain, especially livestock, are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to their analysis, these companies are responsible for 7% of EU emissions in 2018, and the emissions of 20 large companies are higher than those of the Netherlands.

The report focuses on the ten largest companies with more or less accurate climate targets.

As a result, the total emissions of seven of them increased within two years. For example, in terms of meat processing, between 2016 and 2018, + 45% for Irish ABPs and + 30% for German tones; In the case of milk, between 2015 and 2017, French dandelion and lactalis were + 15% and + 30%, respectively.

“The carbon footprints of European diary and meat giants compete with those of fossil fuel giants, but they continue to function impunity,” Shefali Sharma, European director of the IATP, condemned in a press release.

In addition, “a handful of companies with climate plans rely on accounting strategies and greenwashing (or greenwashing of fronts, ed), and the dubious effects of offsets to divert attention from fundamental changes needed to reduce emissions, all substantial of the cost and the risks posed by the farmers who distribute it.

The report particularly condemns the use of carbon emissions by these companies, which means that emissions per liter of milk or kilograms of meat can be reduced without reducing total emissions, as well as production and livestock numbers. Rise.

Of the 20 companies analyzed, only four (Arla, Danon, Friesland Campina, Nestle) reported total supply chain inflows, while only three companies (Nestle, Friesland Campina, ABP) intend to reduce their total output by including their own supply chain. , According to the text.

But “there is no general evidence that any of these companies intend to fundamentally change their model for large-scale livestock production and processing.”

IATP also condemns the efforts of these large corporations to shift responsibility to farmers and consumers in Europe.

The second is low meat and milk consumption, but the report points out that this will have “limited effects” on reducing emissions from European farms due to the large share of exports.