Latest news with #greenhouseGas
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
New study shows Nestle, PepsiCo and other food giants get failing marks on climate action
PARIS, June 3 — Nestle, PepsiCo and other agri-food giants are 'unlikely' to bring about meaningful greenhouse gas reductions in the sector with their current climate policies, according to a report published Tuesday. The annual report by the NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch analysed the climate strategies of five of the world's top 10 food and agriculture corporations. US group PepsiCo and Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS were slapped with the lowest rating of 'very poor', while Mars and Nestle were ranked 'poor'. French brand Danone was given a 'moderate' rating. 'We find that agrifood companies present measures that are unlikely to lead to structural, deep emission reductions in the sector,' the report said. The study identified five key areas for reducing emissions: commitments to fight deforestation, a transition to more plant-based proteins, reducing chemical fertilisers, reducing waste, and the energy transition of industrial sites, packaging and transport. But it found that plant-based protein products were seen as 'merely add-ons, rather than substitutes for dairy and meat products' – which would reduce farming emissions – at JBS, a meat specialist, and Nestle, a key player in the dairy industry. 'Danone is the only one of the five assessed companies with a quantitative methane reduction target... associated with fresh milk production,' the authors wrote. 'Offsetting' risk Agricultural emissions are mainly due to livestock farming, particularly cattle, which give off methane when they burp, and the use of fertilisers, which release nitrous oxide – the third most potent greenhouse gas after methane and CO2. PepsiCo and Nestle are doing fairly well with their deforestation goals, but 'there is likely to be a mismatch between companies' reported progress... and actual rates of deforestation in their supply chains, due to a lack of data transparency,' the report said. The study pointed to persistent illegal deforestation linked to the JBS supply chain, with large areas of forest razed to make way for livestock. 'None of the five assessed agrifood companies acknowledges the need to reduce fertiliser use on farms,' the authors said, adding that Nestle and Danone only mention replacing synthetic fertilisers with natural ones. Regarding food waste, 'only Danone has a credible and ambitious food loss and waste target,' it said. 'Commitments and progress on reducing food loss and waste are noticeably absent from companies' decarbonisation strategies.' Reduction targets are also threatened by 'offsetting' mechanisms, in which emissions are compensated for by investment into environmental projects. The report said emissions avoided through offsetting mechanisms should be counted separately from a company's own emissions reductions and those of its supply chain. 'Nestle, for example, has indicated that up to 80 percent of its target could be met using land-based removals,' it said. 'This raises concerns about the transparency and robustness of already claimed emission reductions.' Danone's rating was also downgraded this year as the group 'is now explicit about its intention to count' offsetting to achieve its reduction target. The report called on bodies that certify companies' climate strategies, such as SBTi or GHG Protocol, to clarify how firms can use offsetting mechanisms to reach their targets. — AFP
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
Climate strategies of agri-food giants insufficient: Study
PARIS: Nestle, PepsiCo and other agri-food giants are "unlikely" to bring about meaningful greenhouse gas reductions in the sector with their current climate policies, according to a report published on Tuesday (Jun 3). The annual report by the NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch analysed the climate strategies of five of the world's top 10 food and agriculture corporations. US group PepsiCo and Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS were slapped with the lowest rating of "very poor", while Mars and Nestle were ranked "poor". French brand Danone was given a "moderate" rating. "We find that agrifood companies present measures that are unlikely to lead to structural, deep emission reductions in the sector," the report said. The study identified five key areas for reducing emissions: commitments to fight deforestation, a transition to more plant-based proteins, reducing chemical fertilisers, reducing waste, and the energy transition of industrial sites, packaging and transport. But it found that plant-based protein products were seen as "merely add-ons, rather than substitutes for dairy and meat products" - which would reduce farming emissions - at JBS, a meat specialist, and Nestle, a key player in the dairy industry. "Danone is the only one of the five assessed companies with a quantitative methane reduction target ... associated with fresh milk production," the authors wrote. "OFFSETTING" RISK Agricultural emissions are mainly due to livestock farming, particularly cattle, which give off methane when they burp, and the use of fertilisers, which release nitrous oxide - the third most potent greenhouse gas after methane and CO2. PepsiCo and Nestle are doing fairly well with their deforestation goals, but "there is likely to be a mismatch between companies' reported progress ... and actual rates of deforestation in their supply chains, due to a lack of data transparency," the report said. The study pointed to persistent illegal deforestation linked to the JBS supply chain, with large areas of forest razed to make way for livestock. "None of the five assessed agrifood companies acknowledges the need to reduce fertiliser use on farms," the authors said, adding that Nestle and Danone only mention replacing synthetic fertilisers with natural ones. Regarding food waste, "only Danone has a credible and ambitious food loss and waste target", it said. "Commitments and progress on reducing food loss and waste are noticeably absent from companies' decarbonisation strategies." Reduction targets are also threatened by "offsetting" mechanisms, in which emissions are compensated for by investment into environmental projects. The report said emissions avoided through offsetting mechanisms should be counted separately from a company's own emissions reductions and those of its supply chain. "Nestle, for example, has indicated that up to 80 per cent of its target could be met using land-based removals," it said. "This raises concerns about the transparency and robustness of already claimed emission reductions." Danone's rating was also downgraded this year as the group "is now explicit about its intention to count" offsetting to achieve its reduction target. The report called on bodies that certify companies' climate strategies, such as SBTi or GHG Protocol, to clarify how firms can use offsetting mechanisms to reach their targets.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
PM stares down US defence spending demand
Anthony Albanese says he won't be dictated to on defence spending, after the United States demanded Australia do more to support the US in the Indo-Pacific. The US administration has called on Australia to lift its defence spending to almost $100 billion a year "as soon as possible" And the PM has been in South Australia touring farms affected by the drought. He says his Government is doing all it can to help farmers deal with the impacts of climate change, but the latest official quarterly data shows Australia's greenhouse gas reduction performance has tanked. Patricia Karvelas and Jacob Greber break it all down on Politics Now. Read PK's piece here: Read Jacob's piece here: Read Annabel's piece here: Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@
E&E News
4 days ago
- Business
- E&E News
DOE axes clean energy grants worth nearly $4B
The Department of Energy canceled $3.7 billion in grants Friday that the Biden administration had authorized for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in fossil fuel plants and industrial projects, a blow to U.S. carbon-cutting efforts and a sign that more award cancellations are possible. Among the 24 axed awards was a hydrogen energy initiative led by Exxon Mobil in Baytown, Texas, and several decarbonization projects for the cement sector and for the food and beverage industry, including the Kraft Heinz Co. Of the canceled grants, only $99 million had gone out the door, DOE said. The majority of the contracts were signed by the Biden DOE after Donald Trump won the presidency last November, the department said. Advertisement DOE's list shows award cancellations for projects that are mostly in Republican-leaning states — Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Ohio and Alabama — and for industries that have voiced support for Trump. 'The Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,' Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement. He added, 'the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars.' The department says it used a review process announced earlier this month to cancel the awards, deciding the grants 'did not meet the economic, national security or energy security standards necessary to sustain DOE's investment.' Democratic lawmakers, environmentalists, energy efficiency groups and some manufacturing advocates panned the grant cancellations. 'We're ceding ground to global competitors racing ahead in innovation and energy efficiency,' Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) said in a statement. 'The American people deserve leadership that meets the moment — not one that backs away from the challenge of a clean, affordable energy future. If the Trump Administration was looking to give Communist China everything they wanted, they are well on their way,' said Kaptur, the ranking member of the House Energy-Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over DOE. The largest canceled awards are for carbon capture projects at cement plants. Heidelberg Materials received $500 million for a project, and the National Cement Co. of California won an award for the same amount. An $189 million award for cement company Brimstone Energy was also canceled. Brimstone spokesperson Liza Darwin said the company believes the decision to cancel was based on a 'misunderstanding,' given the 'project's strong alignment with President Trump's priority to increase U.S. production of critical minerals.' 'Brimstone's Rock Refinery represents the only economically viable way to produce the critical mineral alumina in the U.S. from U.S.-mined rocks,' Darwin said in a statement. Erin Glabets, spokesperson for Sublime Systems, which had an $87 million cement grant canceled, said the company was 'surprised and disappointed.' Heidelberg Materials spokesperson David Perkins said in an interview, 'DOE indicates this decision can be appealed.' 'We are in the process of evaluating this course as we consider our next steps,' he said. Meanwhile, natural gas plants appear to be big targets for the cancellations. Among DOE's award cancellations is one for a gas-fired power plant in Kentucky, which DOE selected last February for a federal cost share of $72 million. The Cane Run Generating Station intended to install CCS and trap roughly 200 tons of carbon dioxide per day. Power generator Calpine and its carbon capture projects also took a hit. On the list of cancellations was a $270 million award to Calpine Texas CCUS Holdings for the company's project in Baytown, Texas. A $332 million canceled award for Exxon Mobil was for a project that planned to swap out natural gas for hydrogen at a textile and plastic production site in Baytown. At the time of the Biden award announcement, DOE said the project would avoid 2.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, along with roughly 200 tons per year of nitrogen oxide. Exxon declined to comment. Another axed award, for just over $49 million, was headed to a carbon capture pilot at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center, which is outside of the Dry Fork power station in Gillette, Wyoming. That award was also announced in February 2024. Jessie Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition — a group that works to build policy support for greater deployment of carbon management technologies — said DOE's decision to cancel awards is 'hugely disappointing.' 'Businesses require certainty to plan and execute projects, and carbon management is no different,' Stolark said in a statement. 'For decades, the United States has been the global leader in the development and deployment of carbon management technologies but moves like this risk ceding America's energy and technological leadership to other nations. As the policy framework in other nations for carbon management continues to mature, we risk being left behind.' Trump has pledged to revive American manufacturing with a sweeping package of import tariffs. Tariffs implemented under the president's declared emergency last month are now stuck in a legal limbo, after a federal court decision Wednesday striking down the levies was followed by an appeals court allowing the tariffs to stay in place while appeals play out. 'This program could have been a centerpiece of achieving the administration's goal to bring manufacturing back to the United States,' Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, said of the canceled DOE awards. 'Locking domestic plants into outdated technology is not a recipe for future competitiveness or bringing manufacturing jobs back to American communities.' Nadel called the DOE decision 'shortsighted.' EPA promotes carbon capture DOE's award terminations contrast with EPA efforts to speed up permitting of wells used to sequester heat-trapping carbon dioxide deep into underground formations. Earlier this year, EPA granted top regulatory authority over Class VI wells, to the state of West Virginia. It also recently proposed granting that authority — called 'primacy' — to Arizona for all six classes of injection wells, including Class VI. 'EPA received a complete Class VI primacy application from Texas on February 28, 2025,' EPA spokesperson Carolyn Holran said in a statement Thursday. The agency 'is working expeditiously to propose and then finalize this rulemaking. EPA's goal is to support a timely and efficient primacy decision that protects groundwater resources and supports cooperative federalism,' Holran said. The list didn't include some of the largest projects — such as hydrogen hubs — potentially slated for cancellation at DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, according to documents that have been circulating among DOE officials and lobbyists for weeks. It's possible that those other projects may be terminated later, as Wright has said DOE is conducting a broad review of projects to be completed this summer. According to the documents, four of seven hydrogen hubs funded with $7 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law may be on the chopping block. The 24 projects nixed Friday were on the circulating lists. OCED also is facing a staffing plunge. More than 70 percent of employees have opted to leave the office voluntarily as part of a deferred resignation program. The department has not provided a final tally of how many resignation offers have been approved. According to modeling from the environmental think tank Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, the closure of OCED could result in the loss of more than 290,000 jobs. Reporter Hannah Northey contributed.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. government reducing many of its energy efficiency rebates as of Monday
Social Sharing Prince Edward Islanders who invest in some energy efficiency measures will get lower rebates from the provincial government starting Monday, while amounts offered to help pay for insulation and window and door replacement will go up. The province announced the changes to its Net Zero and efficiencyPEI rebates on Thursday, after it paused accepting new applications for some programs earlier in the year. "We're trying to balance fiscal responsibility — staying within the budgets that we have in the division — while maximizing our return on investment," said Derek Ellis, the director of sustainability for the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. That means "moving some investments away from some of the poorer-performing programs from an energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions perspective and over to the higher-performing programs," he said. As a result, the amount of money Island homeowners will get for installing heat pumps, buying electric vehicles and putting in solar panels is set to decrease. The province will also pause new applications for free heat pumps, free insulation and free electric hot water heaters due to high demand, a news release said. The province measures the cost effectiveness of its programs based on dollar spent per ton of greenhouse gas emission elimination, as well as dollar per kilowatt hour saved, Ellis said. "We have a good idea of how [programs] perform over time and have made some changes in response to that," he said. Details of new P.E.I. government rebate levels as of June 2, 2025 Popular programs The province has seen a lot of uptake on its heat pump and solar panel rebates, Ellis said, adding that the province is happy to continue offering rebates to homeowners on those items, at a lower rate. The heat pump rebate for residential properties is set to decrease from $1,200 to $900 per unit, while the solar panel program will see a change in incentive rate and a rebate capped at $5,000 for solar panels installed on a home, compared to the prior $10,000 cap. People wanting solar panels who were previously approved by the province will get the old amount, while anyone who applied on or after Jan. 8, 2025, will get the new amount if they are deemed eligible. "Incentives and caps for commercial and agricultural clients will remain the same," the news release adds with regard to solar panels. "Rebates on energy-efficient equipment for business, community, commercial and industrial buildings [are] increasing, including air source heat pump rebate increasing from $600 to $900. Rebates are also increasing for selected lighting and for packaged terminal heat pumps." Rebates for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles have been popular, particularly in Charlottetown and Summerside, Ellis said. While the amount of those rebates are going down, annual registration of those vehicles will still be free. Ellis also said the province will not be making changes to its infrastructure plans to support EVs, citing projects underway to create more fast charging stations in communities across the Island. Some rebates the same or higher Some of the energy efficiency and rebate programs will continue unchanged, including the e-bike incentive, instant rebates on appliances, and the provincial subsidy for home energy audits. As well, the provincial news release says, there will be a "40 per cent increase in rebates for insulation for attics, walls, basements, headers, exposed floors, windows and doors, and air sealing." As for new home construction, the news release said, "incentives will be increased and re-aligned to match national building code tiers, so people will get more money back." Ellis said the province tries to stay in line with the latest trends and best practices to help Islanders minimize energy costs.
