Why advocate for change?

Our advocacy priorities on climate

In addition to advocating for more progressive macro level approaches to climate policy by governments and companies, the two main focus areas for our advocacy activities are:

More detail on these priorities is provided in our net zero roadmap.

Our 2020 advocacy activities – high level

In 2020, Nestlé continued to actively participate in efforts to elevate the importance of climate change. Amongst other actions, this included:

• Our support for the launch of the UNFCCC 'Race to Zero' challenge, persuading more companies, cities and governments to sign up to net-zero targets.
   
• Nestlé's participation in the Race to Zero dialogues – engaging with younger people on the need for a low carbon food system.
   
• Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider participated as a speaker at the World Economic Forum's Sustainable Development Impact Summit during 2020 UN Climate Week, calling for a green recovery from the COVID crisis.
   
• Nestlé's Head of Operations spoke on the importance of using nature-based solutions to tackle climate change and safeguard biodiversity at the Nature for Prosperity Session of the Nature for Life Hub during UN Climate Week in September.
   
• Nestlé's Head of Public Affairs Rob Cameron spoke at a joint ICC and IPCC session in October 2020 on the importance of scientific understanding driving business decision making on climate.

Nestlé signed several multi-stakeholder initiatives in 2020 supporting a sustainable recovery from COVID, including:

• The Solar Impulse Foundation's call for an economic recovery based on environmental protection.
   
• The UN Global Compact's Uniting Business and Governments to Recover Better initiative.
   
• The World Economic Forum's Joint Statement of the CEO Action Group (pdf, 190Kb) calling for a new growth model in Europe on the path to net-zero emissions, based on circularity, renewable energy and low-carbon industries.
   
• The Corporate Leaders Group Europe call for Europe to set an ambitious target of 55% emissions reduction by 2030.
   
• Nestlé was one of the first major companies to sign up to the Business for Nature Call to Action, which asks governments to adopt policies that reverse nature loss by 2030.
   
• Nestlé joined the European Alliance for a Green Recovery.

Active coalition support – global

Nestlé advocates for positive change through various industry and other types of coalitions. This includes our membership of:

• WEF Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders – Nestlé's CEO supports the actions of this group which seeks to catalyze and aggregate action and initiatives from companies from all industry sectors.
   
• One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) – Nestlé is a founding member and leads work on product portfolio transformation and certification to help boost cultivated biodiversity and stop deforestation.
   
• CGF Forest Positive Coalition – Nestlé is founding member of the Coalition, launched in 2020. It is focused on transformative change to remove deforestation, forest conversion and degradation from key commodity supply chains and support forest positive businesses.
   
• Natural Climate Solutions Alliance – Nestlé supports the work of the Alliance in creating the right conditions for a functioning NCS market, allowing companies to invest in high quality projects that deliver rapid drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere.
   
• International Chamber of Commerce Environment and Energy Commission – Nestlé actively participates in the Commission's efforts to develop policy recommendations and tools that address environmental challenges like climate change.
   
• WBCSD Working Groups – Nestlé participates in a number of groups including SOS 1.5 and the Climate Policy Working Group.
   
• Exponential Roadmap Initiative – In December 2020, Nestlé joined the ERI as a Supply Chain Leader, working with suppliers to move towards the 1.5-degree, net zero pathway. Nestlé also supports the SME Climate Hub, where smaller companies can find advice and support to transform their own business models.

Significant regional initiatives

In addition to the activities set out above, Nestlé is active in progressive climate advocacy on a regional and local basis.

In the US, for example, Nestlé supports pro-climate policy development through its membership of both the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance and the We Are Still In campaign.

In Europe, activities include:

• Co-founding the European Clean Trucking Alliance and the EU Circular Plastics Alliance.
   
• Nestlé joined the European Plastics Pact to advocate for the more responsible use of plastic packaging and boost the creation of a circular economy for plastics.
   
• Supporting the European Commission's [email protected] Platform.
   
• Joining the European Alliance for Plant-based Foods to put plant-based foods at the heart of the transition towards more sustainable and healthy food systems.
   
• Participating (via FoodDrinkEurope) in the European Commission Multi-stakeholder Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World's Forests, to provide advice and assistance in the preparation of EU legislative proposals and policy initiatives to tackle global deforestation.