BRAZIL – Brazil-based meat processor, JBS has been removed from the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) commitment register, raising questions about the company’s efforts toward environmental sustainability.
The SBTi is an international organization that assists businesses in establishing emissions reduction targets aligned with scientific standards.
JBS’s net-zero targets, announced in 2021 to achieve by 2040, have been struck off the register in relation to near-term and net-zero commitments.
JBS responded to the removal, citing changes in the SBTi’s requirements and draft methodologies that have “fundamentally altered the previous understandings” between JBS and SBTi.
“During this time, SBTi created new requirements and draft methodologies for agriculture-based companies that fundamentally altered the previous understandings,” the company noted.
“While we are therefore moving forward with our environmental goals outside of the SBTi framework, such shift does not alter our climate reduction objectives.”
The company expressed its ongoing commitment to setting science-based targets to reduce and eliminate carbon emissions across all scopes in its shared value chain.
“Our ambition to set targets based on sound science has not changed. We are actively partnering with multiple, credible third parties to set actionable targets and will release the results of these efforts – our climate action plan and emission reduction road map – in the near future.”
The meat giant emphasized that the shift in the SBTi framework does not alter its climate reduction objectives and that it is actively partnering with third parties to set actionable targets, with plans to release a climate action plan and emission reduction roadmap in the near future.
The development followed a recent lawsuit filed against JBS’s US arm by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, alleging deceptive environmental marketing claims. The lawsuit called for JBS to drop its 2040 net-zero pledge.
Meanwhile, JBS has revealed plans to continue collaborating with various stakeholders to address agricultural emissions, combat food insecurity, and enhance agricultural sustainability.
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