Fonterra’s climate targets get tick of approval by Science Based Target initiative
Fonterra Director of Sustainability Charlotte Rutherford says she’s delighted the Co-op’s emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).
SBTi is a globally recognised organisation that defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting.
Validation of targets mean they are aligned to the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
“There’s a lot of rigour applied to the verification process by SBTi, which is essential, and I thank our teams that have worked on this,” says Rutherford.
“Having credible science backed targets is really important to us and our customers. It’s now up to all of us to keep making progress towards these targets to maintain our position as one of the world’s lowest emissions suppliers of dairy at scale.”
Last year Fonterra set a new on farm emissions reduction target and increased its scope 1 and 2 targets as part of its work to be a long-term sustainable Co-op. Since then, the Co-op has been working on the validation of these targets by SBTi.
Scope 1&2
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50.4% by FY2030 from a FY2018 base year.*
Forest Land and Agriculture Guidance (FLAG)
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited commits to reduce scope 1 and 3 FLAG GHG emissions from dairy 30% per tonne of fat-and-protein-corrected milk by FY2030 from a FY2018 base year.**
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited also commits to no deforestation across its primary deforestation-linked commodities, with a target date of 31st December 2025.
In seeking validation, the Co-op was required to set an additional scope 3 energy and industrial target. Whereas Fonterra’s other targets cover emissions reduction, this target focuses on the climate ambitions of vendors and customers and their alignment to science-based targets.
This new target is:
Scope 3 energy and industrial engagement
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited also commits that 78.2% of its suppliers and customers by emissions, covering purchased goods and services, capital goods, upstream and downstream transportation and distribution, business travel, and processing of sold products, will have science-based targets by FY28.
*The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.
**The target includes FLAG emissions and removals.