Food giant Nestle has withdrawn from a global alliance aimed at curbing methane emissions from the dairy sector, Reuters reported, marking a setback for collective efforts to tackle greenhouse gas pollution in food production and global climate action.
The Dairy Methane Action Alliance, launched in December 2023, includes companies such as Danone, Kraft Heinz and Starbucks. Members had pledged to publicly track, disclose, and cut methane emissions from their dairy supply chains over time, a move seen as part of broader climate action efforts across the food and agriculture industries.
Nestle did not provide a reason for quitting the group but said it remained committed to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, across its supply chains. The company reaffirmed its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as reported by Reuters.
Corporate Climate Pacts Lose Momentum
The withdrawal adds to growing pressure on climate alliances as U.S. President Donald Trump rolls back several environmental initiatives. Similar exits have been observed in the financial sector, where leading banks have withdrawn from key coalitions focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting climate action.
“Nestle regularly reviews its memberships of external organizations,” Reuters cited the Swiss-based firm as saying. “As part of this process, we have decided to discontinue our membership of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance.”
The Reuters story further stated that Nestle had already reduced methane emissions by nearly 21 percent compared to 2018 levels, according to its 2024 non-financial report.
Methane is nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, making it a top target in global efforts to slow climate change.
The Environmental Defense Fund, which launched the methane initiative, states that agriculture accounts for approximately 40 percent of human-caused methane emissions, with the majority originating from livestock.
Nestle’s logo has been removed from the EDF’s main webpage, though its name remains listed on some other sections. The EDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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