Reducing methane offers one of the most “impactful and immediate opportunities” for companies in the food sector that want to deliver long-term business value, says research from investor network Ceres. In a new report, the organisation said that methane emissions from cattle and other animals represent a “substantial proportion of total emissions” for food companies sourcing meat and dairy products. It also noted that food retailers, including grocery and convenience stores, are on the high end of the exposure spectrum compared to other sub-industries. The assessment of restaurants is more mixed. For restaurants with more diverse menus, livestock will be a smaller proportion of total emissions but still impactful. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential more than 80 times greater than carbon dioxide. However, it also has a far shorter lifespan in the atmosphere. “This means that reducing methane emissions could deliver rapid benefits – eliminating methane emissions today would create a cooling effect within 12 years, while similar short-term reductions in carbon dioxide wouldn’t affect temperatures for centuries,” said the report.
