McDonald's wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

Fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, from beef to restaurant

Global fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's has set a new target to cut its global emission of greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2050, from the beef in its burgers to the electricity used in its restaurants. McDonald's is working with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a nonprofit, to revamp and achieve its climate change targets.

It aims to lower absolute emissions by about a third for both its suppliers and its nearly 40,000 company-run and franchised restaurants worldwide by 2030. McDonald's Chief Sustainability Officer, Jenny McColloch, said that they were trying to send a signal to their partners, investors, suppliers, and brands in the global community that they shared the United Nations' vision for 2050.

Scientists from the United Nations say the world's net emissions need to fall to zero by 2050 to stop increasing global temperatures to at least 1.5 degrees Celsius versus pre-industrial levels.

McDonald's Corp. is one of the largest buyers of beef in the world. Nearly 80 percent of McDonald's total emissions come from its supply chain, particularly its use of chicken, beef, dairy, and other proteins. It will use new strategies from SBTi to focus on cutting emissions in agriculture, land use, and forestry.