Emissions Impossible: Methane Edition

The report finds that 15 major meat and dairy companies emit approximately 12.8 million tonnes of methane, representing 3.4% of global anthropogenic methane emissions and 11.1% of livestock-related methane. These combined emissions exceed the methane footprints of several countries, including Russia, Canada, Australia, and Germany. The authors highlight a pervasive lack of corporate transparency, noting that 60% of the companies fail to report total GHGs or scope 3 emissions, and none report supply chain methane. The report calls for mandatory reporting, binding reduction targets, and a systemic shift away from industrial animal agriculture.

• The combined methane emissions of 15 of the largest meat and dairy corporations are roughly 12.8 million tonnes, which is more than 80% of the European Union's total methane footprint, 3.4% of all global anthropogenic methane emissions, and 11.1% of global livestock-related methane.
• The total greenhouse gas emissions of these 15 companies amount to approximately 734 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a figure higher than the total emissions of Germany. If these companies were a single jurisdiction, they would be the tenth largest GHG-emitting entity globally, with emissions exceeding those of oil companies BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil.
• Individual corporate methane emissions are comparable to national levels: JBS's emissions exceed the combined livestock methane of Canada, France, Germany, and New Zealand (or 55% of US livestock methane); Marfrig's emissions rival Australia's entire livestock sector; Tyson's are comparable to the Russian Federation's; and Dairy Farmers of America's are comparable to the UK's livestock methane.
• There is a significant lack of corporate disclosure regarding emissions; 60% (nine out of 15) of the analyzed companies do not report their emissions or their total supply chain (scope 3) emissions, and no company reported supply chain methane emissions.

APA

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

Chicago

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

Wikipedia

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

BibTeX

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