Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: FrieslandCampina appears to have limited engagement with climate policy in 2022-4, although taking predominantly negative positions. It is a member of the European Dairy Association which engages negatively with climate policy in the EU.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: FrieslandCampina supports climate policy in its top-line messaging with some exceptions. In its 2023 Annual Report, published in February 2024, the company supported the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming below 1.5°C. The company partially acknowledged the link between climate change and the land-use sector in its Climate Plan published in April 2022. Though FrieslandCampina appeared supportive of emissions reductions in the Netherlands, it emphasized that the environmental impact of the Dutch dairy sector is lower relative to other countries in its 2022 Annual Report, published in March 2023. IM did not detect a position on the need for government regulation on climate change.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: FrieslandCampina takes somewhat unclear positions on specific climate regulations. In April 2022 in a publication on Climate Strategy, Friesland Campina did not take a clear position on GHG emission standards using different methods for calculating the global warming impact of methane. Additionally, the company seemed to support lower global warming potential adopted in 6th IPCC report in life cycle assessment standards but was unclear whether it was referring to regulation. In its 2022 Progress Climate Plan published in April 2023, the company appeared supportive of land-use planning to protect and enhance carbon sinks and reservoirs but its position on policy was unclear. FrieslandCampina appeared supportive of policy aimed at the sustainable intensification of agriculture in the Netherlands, but was unclear what exactly this includes in its 2023 Annual Report, published in February 2024.
Positioning on Energy Transition: InfluenceMap did not find evidence of FrieslandCampina engaging with policy relevant to transitioning the energy mix between 2022-24. In a page on its corporate website accessed in March 2024, the company appeared concerned with transitioning its own operations but its position on policy or a broader transition to a low carbon economy was unclear.
Industry Association Governance: FrieslandCampina disclosed a list of industry association memberships in its 2022 Annual Report, published in March 2023, but with limited details on the type or membership or top-line climate policy positions. It did not disclose that a senior executive is the chair of the Common Agricultural Policy task force of the European Dairy Association, an association that engages negatively with climate policy in Europe. The company has not published a review of its alignment with its industry associations.