Big 10 Food Companies Emit as Much as the “World’s 25th Most Polluting Country”

Weather variations have always influenced food prices, and climate change adds to uncertainty of harvests with extreme storms, floods, droughts and shifting weather patterns. The world’s big 10 food-and-beverage companies, including Associated British Foods, Coca-Cola and General Mills, are both vulnerable to climate change and responsible for the release of carbon emissions, suggests Oxfam’s “Standing on the Sidelines” report, part of its “Behind the Brands” campaign looking at the social and environmental policies. Together, the 10 firms emit more tons of greenhouse gases than Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway combined. Recommendations include more measurements and analysis, reduction targets for suppliers, policies that discourage deforestation and active encouragement of governments and trade associations to take steps on climate change. Oxfam argues the industry has a moral imperative and a business responsibility. Without action from the multinational firms, global consumers can anticipate a sharp rise in food prices. – YaleGlobal