A whistleblower complaint has been filed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) calling for an investigation into US$3.2 billion worth of sustainability-linked bonds (SLB) issued by Brazilian meat giant JBS – a first for the SLB market. The complainant, NGO Mighty Earth, alleges that JBS based the bond offerings on its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 when its emissions have estimated to have grown by between 17% and 56% between 2016 and 2021, to 288 million metric tonnes CO2 equivalent in 2021, and may be as high as 541 million metric tonnes CO2. Mighty Earth also claims that JBS excluded ‘Scope 3’ supply chain emissions that it says comprises upwards of 97% of its climate footprint and also that it omitted key information from investors about the actual number of animals it slaughters each year.
Mighty Earth has filed a complaint with the US Securities and Exchange Commission against @JBS_oficial's 'green bonds'. Our evidence highlights how the meat giant's 'sustainability bonds' were misleading to investors and allegedly fraudulent#deforestation. https://t.co/BLj25yZnT4 pic.twitter.com/wb1w0lom0M
— Mighty Earth 🌍 (@StandMighty) January 18, 2023
