Meat and Dairy Disconnect Over Methane Emissions 

A report by the Changing Markets Foundation (CMF) has highlighted a disconnect over methane emissions between the meat and dairy industry and its investors, as well as a risk of stranded assets in the sector. Data from 201 investors found that around three-quarters think companies should be reporting methane emissions, with only one firm – Dutch food company Upfield – becoming the first to do so in March 2022. According to the report, 94% of investors think reducing methane emissions alongside carbon emissions is important, 39% saying it is critically important. Yet, 83% of respondents think investors need to be engaging more with companies to reduce methane emissions, putting greater pressure on them to do so. Food production accounts for around 37% of greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock agriculture responsible for 32% of anthropogenic methane emissions. There are fears from 84% of the respondent’s that lack of sector climate mitigation could lead to stranded assets – 61% saying it is a distinct possibility while 23% say that the risk of stranded assets is very likely. Nusa Urbancic, CMF’s Campaigns Director, said: “Despite the majority of investors believing that climate change presents a material risk to meat and dairy industry-related investment, it is concerning that more than half also said that investors are not sufficiently addressing those risks”. 

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