This week, President Trump announced his decision for the U.S. to exit the Paris Climate Agreement. In response, some food company executives spoke out against the decision and reiterated their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain.
Cargill Chairman and CEO David MacLennan expressed his disappointment in a press release, saying: “Exiting international accords like the Paris Agreement will negatively impact trade, economic vitality, the state of our environment, and relationships amongst the world community. And it positions the U.S. as an outlier on this important issue.” He also vowed that Cargill would “remain fully committed to address climate change in supply chains around the world.”
Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont ice cream company, took the opportunity to list 6 (sarcastic) reasons that pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement was the right move, including “Clean Energy, Schmenergy” and “Crises Keep Life Exciting.” Despite the mocking tone, Ben & Jerry’s is serious about their impact on the environment. The Vermont-based company recently partnered with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help their dairy suppliers understand their carbon footprint — and take steps to further alleviate their impact on the environment.
Andy Pharoah, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Mars Incorporated, agreed that “climate change is a real threat to the world” and that “the science is clear.” Despite Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the agreement, Pharoah added that “many other businesses are sticking by it, and governments throughout the world are sticking by it.”
And he’s right — prior to the Paris Climate Agreement withdrawal, food companies were already planning and implementing responsible practices for environmentally sustainable supply chains. For example, PepsiCo recently committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% across their value chain by 2030.
Read more about what food companies are doing to cut down on climate change.
