Emissions Impossible: Methan Edition

The report estimates that five major meat and ten major dairy companies emit approximately 12.8 million tonnes of methane, representing 11.1% of global anthropogenic methane emissions from livestock. These companies' total greenhouse gas emissions (734 million tonnes CO2 equivalent) exceed those of Germany. The authors highlight a significant lack of transparency, noting that 60% of these companies do not report full supply chain (Scope 3) emissions, and none report supply-chain methane. The document calls for mandatory emissions disclosure and a reduction in livestock numbers to meet the 1.5°C global warming limit.

• Fifteen of the largest meat and dairy companies collectively emit approximately 12.8 million tonnes of methane, which accounts for 11.1% of global anthropogenic methane emissions from livestock and over 80% of the European Union's total methane footprint.
• The total greenhouse gas emissions of these 15 companies are estimated at 734 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a volume that exceeds the total emissions of Germany and would make the group the tenth-largest emitter globally if they were a country.
• Individual company emissions are comparable to national livestock sectors: JBS's methane emissions exceed the combined livestock emissions of France, Germany, Canada, and New Zealand, and equal 55% of the US livestock sector's emissions.
• There is a critical lack of corporate transparency regarding emissions; 60% of the studied companies either do not report emissions at all or omit Scope 3 supply chain data, and no company reported methane emissions from its supply chain.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2022). Emissions Impossible: Methan Edition. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Emissions-Impossible_Methane-Edition_ExecSum_DE_Final-1.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Emissions Impossible: Methan Edition. 2022. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Emissions-Impossible_Methane-Edition_ExecSum_DE_Final-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Emissions Impossible: Methan Edition |date=November 2022 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Emissions-Impossible_Methane-Edition_ExecSum_DE_Final-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2022emissions, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Emissions Impossible: Methan Edition}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Emissions-Impossible_Methane-Edition_ExecSum_DE_Final-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }