Greenpeace Activists Scale Fonterra Factory
Source: DairyNews.today
Early this morning, Greenpeace activists staged a dramatic protest at Fonterra’s Te Rapa dairy processing facility in Hamilton, New Zealand, to draw attention to the company’s methane emissions. Protestors climbed the building, unfurling a large banner that read, “Fonterra’s methane cooks the climate,” as they abseiled down the glass exterior.
According to a statement from Greenpeace spokeswoman Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn, the demonstration was a call to action against what the environmental group describes as Fonterra’s contribution to climate change. "We’re in Hamilton today to demand that Fonterra end its role in climate destruction," she said. "Reducing methane emissions is essential to slowing down climate change, and as the world’s largest dairy exporter, New Zealand has a critical role to play.”
Greenpeace argues that Fonterra’s reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and palm kernel for sustaining dairy herds significantly contributes to methane emissions. Deighton-O’Flynn emphasized that Fonterra could take substantial steps to reduce its climate impact by phasing out these practices and helping farmers transition to more sustainable, plant-based, and ecological methods.
“Fonterra has the power to lead by example and support the shift to environmentally-friendly farming. Reducing herd sizes, eliminating palm kernel dependency, and moving away from synthetic fertilizers are feasible actions that could make a real difference,” she said.
The protest, reported to local authorities around 7 a.m., was met with a police presence on the ground. A police spokesperson noted that the situation was under control and emphasized the right to peaceful protest. “There are no immediate traffic delays, and no arrests have been made so far,” the statement read, adding that officers would take enforcement action if unlawful behavior occurred.
Police removed the protest banner shortly after it was unfurled, and there were no reports of disruptions to Fonterra’s operations. Fonterra representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.
The protest underscores growing public scrutiny on the dairy industry’s role in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. As climate activism gains momentum globally, Fonterra and other major agricultural players face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint.
Greenpeace argues that Fonterra’s reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and palm kernel for sustaining dairy herds significantly contributes to methane emissions. Deighton-O’Flynn emphasized that Fonterra could take substantial steps to reduce its climate impact by phasing out these practices and helping farmers transition to more sustainable, plant-based, and ecological methods.
“Fonterra has the power to lead by example and support the shift to environmentally-friendly farming. Reducing herd sizes, eliminating palm kernel dependency, and moving away from synthetic fertilizers are feasible actions that could make a real difference,” she said.
The protest, reported to local authorities around 7 a.m., was met with a police presence on the ground. A police spokesperson noted that the situation was under control and emphasized the right to peaceful protest. “There are no immediate traffic delays, and no arrests have been made so far,” the statement read, adding that officers would take enforcement action if unlawful behavior occurred.
Police removed the protest banner shortly after it was unfurled, and there were no reports of disruptions to Fonterra’s operations. Fonterra representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.
The protest underscores growing public scrutiny on the dairy industry’s role in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane. As climate activism gains momentum globally, Fonterra and other major agricultural players face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint.
