Standing on the sidelines

Why food and beverage companies must do more to tackle climate change

Publication date: 20 May 2014
Author: Behind the Brands campaign, with contributions from Chris Cook, Matt Grainger, Tim Gore, Irit Tamir and Gabrielle Watson

For the food and beverage industry, climate change is a major threat. For millions of people, it means more extreme weather and greater hunger. The Big 10 companies are significant contributors to this crisis, yet they are not doing nearly enough to help tackle it.

In this paper, Oxfam calls on the Big 10 to face up to the scale of greenhouse gas emissions produced through their supply chains, and address the deforestation and unsustainable land-use practices they allow to happen.

The Big 10 must set new targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions throughout their supply chains. But they cannot tackle climate risk by acting alone. They have a duty to step off the sidelines and use their influence to call for urgent climate action from other industries and governments.


Key recommendations from the report

Specifically, food and beverage companies should:

  • Know and show their climate change emissions, including emissions in their supply chains


     
  • Commit to quantifiable greenhouse gas emissions reductions
     
  • Advocate for ambitious action to combat climate change