With climate change comes increases in temperature, CO2<\/sub> content, and the rate and severity of droughts and floods, all of which threaten both the reliability and predictability of crop yields.\u00a0 Scientists at NC State and Columbia University have predicted that by 2100 greenhouse gases could reduce crop yields by 30-46% under slow global warming scenarios and 63-82% over rapid global warming scenarios (Exhibit I below provides some context to the expected crop yield changes between now and 2050). [2]<\/a> \u00a0All crops have optimal temperatures for reproductive growth, making reducing and adapting to climate change of utmost importance for food and beverage companies.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n Coca-Cola is one such company. \u00a0A major, global leader within this industry, Coca-Cola understands the importance of controlling human impact on the environment for the future viability of its business. \u00a0Though Coca-Cola does not own or operate any farms, it relies on the agricultural output of those farms (which it receives from its suppliers), to manufacture its end products \u2013 half of the company\u2019s spend on procurement goes to its agricultural inputs.[4]<\/a>\u00a0 The company relies on millions of tons of fresh fruit, corn, tea, sugar, coffee and other ingredients every year.[5]<\/a> \u00a0Coca-Cola\u2019s long-term success depends on its ability to maintain reliable supply of those products.<\/p>\n However, Coca-Cola is also part of the problem \u2013 the company emitted 59 million metric tonnes of GHG in 2010 alone (roughly the size of Norway\u2019s total annual emissions).[6]<\/a>,[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Given both the importance of climate change on its business and its huge carbon impact to date, Coca-Cola has done a good job in taking steps to boost its long-term sustainability, both for itself and for its peers across its entire value chain.\u00a0 In 2013, the company announced a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to cut the carbon emissions linked to each of its products by 25% before 2020 (off a 2010 baseline) (i.e., reduce the carbon footprint of the \u201cdrink in your hand\u201d by 25%).\u00a0 This is a comprehensive proposal that focuses on the entire value chain \u2013 ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, packaging formats, delivery fleet, and refrigeration equipment.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n The company has certainly made progress, cutting the CO2<\/sub> embedded in the \u201cdrink in your hand\u201d by 13% at YE2015, and it has done so through multiple initiatives.[9]<\/a> \u00a0For example, the company has taken drastic measures in reducing the carbon footprint of its commercial fleet. \u00a0Coca-Cola has transitioned its transportation vehicles to become the largest heavy-duty hybrid commercial fleet in North America, with over 650 hybrid delivery trucks, and has also begun building a fleet of zero-emission trucks of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in North America, which currently exceeds 750 vehicles.[10]<\/a> \u00a0In addition, Coca-Cola has emphasized improving the environmental performance of its refrigeration systems with HFC-Free coolers.\u00a0 The company has spent over $100 million over the past decade to make its coolers more socially responsible, developing devices that reduce electricity use by monitoring usage patterns and adjusting lighting and temperature to maximize energy efficiency.[11]<\/a><\/p>\n I applaud Coca-Cola for setting demanding targets for itself and setting a positive example as a leader of an industry that is in dire need of limiting and ultimately reversing its carbon footprint.\u00a0 While I certainly believe that Coca-Cola has made solid progress on its initiatives to date and is on track for its 25% improvement by 2020, Coca-Cola still needs to de-couple its growth from its carbon footprint.\u00a0 As a company that continues to look to expand, particularly in emerging markets, it should do everything necessary to make the changes and advancements required such that the company\u2019s future growth does not increase its GHG emissions.\u00a0 To do so, the company needs not only to increase its energy efficiency, but, more importantly, to make more of an emphasis on renewable energy sources for its manufacturing facilities.\u00a0 Eventually, I hope the company can eventually come to rely more on clean energy technologies like wind, photovoltaic, hydraulic and biomass for its manufacturing \u2013 after all, it\u2019s long-term future depends on it.<\/p>\n Exhibit I<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Word Count: 771<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Oxfam Canaca, \u201cBig ten food companies emitting as much as the \u2018world\u2019s 25th most polluting country,\u2019\u201d https:\/\/www.oxfam.ca\/news\/big-ten-food-companies-co2-emissions-2014-05-20<\/a>.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> World Resources Institute, \u201cThe Global Food Challenge Explained in 18 Graphics,\u201d http:\/\/www.wri.org\/blog\/2013\/12\/global-food-challenge-explained-18-graphics<\/a>.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> EPA, \u201cClimate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply,\u201d https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climate-impacts\/climate-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply<\/a>.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Coca-Cola, \u201cCOP21: Climate Talks Should Include Crops,\u201d http:\/\/www.coca-colacompany.com\/coca-cola-unbottled\/cop21-series–climate-talks-should-include-crops<\/a>.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Coca-Cola, \u201cSustainable Agriculture,\u201d http:\/\/www.coca-colacompany.com\/sustainabilityreport\/world\/sustainable-agriculture.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Coca-Cola, \u201c2012\/2013 Climate Protection Report,\u201d http:\/\/assets.coca-colacompany.com\/74\/9d\/4a39e1f6490bad6c44ebc3da4dec\/2013-climate-report-pdf.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> The World Bank, \u201cCO2 emissions (kt),\u201d http:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/EN.ATM.CO2E.KT?name_desc=false<\/a>.<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> The White House, \u201cWhite House Announces Additional Commitments to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge,\u201d https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2015\/11\/30\/white-house-announces-additional-commitments-american-business-act<\/a>.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> Coca-Cola, \u201cAn Ambitious Goal: Reducing Carbon in Our Value Chain,\u201d http:\/\/www.coca-colacompany.com\/an-ambitious-new-goal-reducing-carbon-in-our-value-chain<\/a>.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> Coca-Cola, \u201cSustainability Update: Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection,\u201d http:\/\/www.coca-colacompany.com\/our-company\/sustainability-update-energy-efficiency-and-climate-protection<\/a>.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Coca-Cola, \u201c2014\/2015 Sustainability Report,\u201d http:\/\/www.coca-colacompany.com\/content\/dam\/journey\/us\/en\/private\/fileassets\/pdf\/2015\/09\/2014-2015-sustainability-report.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Coca-Cola’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint are a noble endeavor, but the company still has plenty of room for improvement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2069,"featured_media":9956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1222,1221],"class_list":["post-9955","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beverage-industry","category-coca-cola"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\n![\"exhibit-1\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-1-3.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n