OTTAWA — By 2050, Canadian dairy farms will produce milk without contributing to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the newly unveiled “net-zero” pledge made by the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) on Feb. 2. The organization also plans on hitting an undefined milestone of reduced emissions by 2030.
While dairy farmers must adapt to this objective, DFC also pointedly notes that “effective government supports” are required to make the goal a reality.
DFC claims that Canadian dairy farmers have already cut the carbon footprint of milk production by 22% through improved management practices, between 1990 and 2019.
“For generations now, Canadian dairy farmers have been stewards of the land, adapting their practices based on science and innovation,” said DFC President Pierre Lampron, who noted that Canadian dairy farmers already enjoy “one of the lowest carbon footprints per litre of milk produced.”
Steven Guilbeault, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, praised the DFC for its “important leadership,” asserting that “every economic sector and every region needs to step up to reduce emissions.”
Last fall, DFC joined 11 of the world’s largest dairy organizations in supporting Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, a Global Dairy Platform-sponsored commitment towards net-zero GHG emissions. The effort aligns with the Paris Climate Accord and the intentions of the Trudeau government.
