Did you know that methane has 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after it enters the atmosphere? A powerful short-term climate driver, methane is a uniquely potent greenhouse gas. Agriculture is responsible for nearly 40 percent of human-caused methane emissions — the majority of which come from livestock. Instead of looking at this as an insurmountable challenge, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) saw this as a business opportunity, especially for dairy and livestock companies. EDF also recognized that cutting methane is the single fastest way to slow the rate of global warming.
Targeting the dairy sector to address methane emissions
Representing approximately 10 percent of global methane emissions, the dairy sector can help achieve global methane reduction targets and safeguard the future of dairy farming in the face of a changing climate.
Methane accounts for over 60 percent of dairy farm emissions. Companies that source dairy have the opportunity to play a leading role in reducing emissions to drive down near-term warming by targeting methane emissions in their supply chains.
“Reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest ways to slow the pace of warming — and it’s also a prudent business move for food and dairy companies,” notes Vrashabh Kapate, Senior Manager, Global Dairy Sector, Environmental Defense Fund. “Companies that lead on methane are better positioned to manage supply chain risks, meet sustainability goals, and respond to growing regulatory needs alongside investor and consumer expectations.”
Establishing the Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA) to catalyze climate action
Through research and advocacy, EDF has been driving global action to cut methane pollution for over a decade, including building a methane-tracking satellite to help scale reductions worldwide.
Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis and the significant role of the food sector in reducing global methane emissions, ten major food and dairy companies stepped forward to catalyze ambitious climate action across the industry.
The companies joined forces with EDF to launch the Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA). Today, DMAA signatories include Agropur, Bel Group, Clover Sonoma, Danone, General Mills, Idaho Milk Products, Kraft Heinz, Lactalis USA, Savencia Fromage & Dairy, and Starbucks. These companies, representing about 30 percent of US and 10 percent of EU market share by revenue, are committed to annually accounting for and publicly disclosing methane emissions within their dairy supply chains. They have also agreed to publish and implement a comprehensive methane action plan to reduce emissions over time. Sustainability nonprofit Ceres is partnering with EDF to help ensure companies stay on track toward meeting their milestones.
Developing technical guidance for actionable accounting and transparency
Historically, technical guidance and accounting frameworks have not provided the necessary direction to disaggregate dairy-related emissions by greenhouse gas and process, such as enteric fermentation, manure management, and feed. The industry also lacked a framework and guidance to support planning and tracking actions to mitigate dairy methane emissions.
EDF, in partnership with Ceres, enlisted the expertise and support of sustainability consulting firm Pure Strategies to address this gap by creating and publishing technical guidance for disaggregating methane emissions using commonly referenced data sources.
This work resulted in four new technical guides:
- Dairy Methane Accounting: A guide for disaggregating dairy methane emissions from existing corporate greenhouse gas inventories
- Dairy Methane Disclosure: A guide for publicly disclosing dairy methane emissions
- Dairy Methane Action Plan: A guide to planning and disclosing actions to reduce dairy methane emissions
- Dairy Methane Stakeholder Engagement: A guide for engaging stakeholders on dairy methane emissions mitigation
These essential new guides build on existing leadership in the field, providing robust, practical technical resources, including clear frameworks for measuring and reporting dairy methane emissions, as well as best practices for action planning and stakeholder engagement. These resources are helping companies that produce and source dairy ingredients take the first steps toward action and transparency on dairy methane emissions and mitigation planning.
“Environmental Defense Fund has worked in partnership with sustainability consultant Pure Strategies on a number of historic milestones, including the most recent collaboration to provide the global food and dairy sector a foundational framework for companies to begin their dairy methane accounting journey,” notes Katie Anderson, Senior Director, Business, Food and Agriculture, Environmental Defense Fund. “These four groundbreaking guides have helped global food companies to create dairy methane action plans that chart a clear path toward substantial reductions in methane pollution and continue to help food and dairy companies to measure, disclose, and act on methane emissions.”
Proof that progress on dairy methane is possible
The commodity-specific guidance is empowering companies to act ambitiously to address methane pollution. DMAA member companies and others are taking action to reduce global methane emissions in the food and dairy sector and publishing their progress, thanks to the new technical guides.
DMAA has also shared progress to date from member companies that have operationalized the guidance. Publishing some of the world’s first dairy methane emissions disclosures and action plans, Alliance members are proving that progress on dairy methane is possible — and advancing across the sector. To date, all ten DMAA companies have published their methane inventories, and nine have public action plans.
Innovation in Climate Action in the Dairy Sector
In October 2025, the International Dairy Federation — a network that represents two-thirds of the global milk supply and a key resource for scientific and technical information in the dairy sector — awarded its 2025 “Innovation in Climate Action in the Dairy Sector” award to DMAA and EDF, the first-ever NGO to win its Innovation award. DMAA was also invited to join the COP30 Presidency’s Activation Group on land restoration and regenerative agriculture, as well as its subgroup on accelerating methane mitigation solutions.
Time for greater impact and scale
The robust dairy methane action plan template, developed in collaboration with Ceres and Pure Strategies, is now available to all companies that source dairy ingredients. Many companies are actively developing their dairy methane action plans as part of their broader climate transition planning.
Pure Strategies also helped EDF develop a Dairy Methane Masterclass through the Net Zero Action Accelerator. This e-learning masterclass broadens the reach of DMAA and equips dairy companies with essential knowledge and tools to measure, disclose, and act on methane emissions in alignment with industry best practices and global climate goals.
Leadership by companies disclosing and acting on dairy methane emissions has set a precedent for ambitious climate action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change — and supports a broader transformation in the food system. EDF is calling on all companies in the global dairy supply chain to join this effort to expedite methane reductions and deliver greater impact and scale. Companies are invited to start their journey and learn how these tools are helping dairy leaders take meaningful climate action.
