The world’s largest meat supplier JBS has scrapped a key climate goal that it announced five years ago, joining major polluters that have given up on accounting for the environmental impact of their business.
The decision by the Brazilian meat group with global operations involves dropping a net zero target that includes greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by suppliers, which make up the vast bulk of the company’s environmental footprint.
JBS justified the move on the grounds of difficulties in controlling these indirect, or so-called Scope 3 emissions, generated chiefly by livestock it buys for slaughter from thousands of farmers.It said it would focus on lowering emissions within its own operations, known as Scope 1 and 2 emissions. These account for as little as 3 per cent of the company’s overall output of warming gases, including methane, that contribute to climate change.