CERES: The Investor Guide to Climate Transition Plans in the U.S. Food Sector

Despite greater corporate climate disclosure, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction targets, net zero targets and other climate-related goals, many companies in the US food sector fail to adequately disclose information to investors on how they intend to achieve their ambitions.

“The Investor Guide to Climate Transition Plans in the U.S. Food Sector” provides comprehensive guidance to food companies who want to move beyond target-setting to create and implement sector-specific climate transition plans that chart pathways to GHG emissions reductions. Quantis Global Food + Beverage Lead, Charlotte Bande, contributed as an expert to this report.

The report includes in-depth analysis of key food sector sub-industries such as packaged foods and meats, food distribution and food retail. It also outlines a framework to help investors assess corporate climate transition plans, featuring guidance on how to evaluate corporate emissions disclosures, emissions reduction targets and climate transition strategies and actions.

The guide is primarily intended to support investor engagements with companies that have already disclosed their full-scope GHG emissions and have set 1.5°C GHG reduction targets that cover Scope 3 emissions. Without these foundational elements in place, companies face the risk of creating plans that are not ambitious enough to truly mitigate climate change. Investors can also use the guidance to engage companies by emphasizing the importance of getting ahead of forthcoming guidance and standards by aligning their actions with more ambitious standards.

Investor Guide to Climate Transition Plans