Editor’s note: This commentary is by Matthew McCarthy, of Burlington, who is the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s.
[H]ow does ice cream serve as a metaphor for planet Earth? In both cases, as our co-founder Ben noted many years ago, “If it’s melted, it’s ruined.” That’s why we take the climate crisis so seriously at Ben & Jerry’s.
Beyond bringing our fans around the world our euphoric chunks and swirls, we are, at heart, an agriculture company. From the fresh milk and cream we buy from Vermont’s family farmers to the ingredients imported from the global south, our supply chain is already exposed to impacts of climate change. And without bold leadership and action by policymakers to reduce carbon pollution, pretty soon you could be seeing shortages of your favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavor.
We rely on farmers all over the world for our ingredients, and changes in weather patterns are already impacting growing communities in our supply chain. As these climate changes accelerate, it puts these farms, communities and crops at risk. That’s a level of unpredictability that could lead to no cocoa, no peanuts, and no coffee coming to our ice cream factories in Franklin and Washington counties. No ingredients means no ice cream.
Like it or not, the effects of climate change are closer than you think.
Scientists predict that cocoa production could drop by as much as 50 percent by 2050. And that scares our lids off because that means pints like Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Half Baked, and The Tonight Dough are ultimately in real danger.
Like chocolate, peanuts are very particular about the climate in which they thrive. So it’s not good news that the regions that produce much of the world’s peanut supply (China, India, and the southern U.S.) are predicted to see more drought in the future, especially if current greenhouse-gas emissions levels remain. This leaves us more than a bit nervous about flavors like Chunky Monkey, Peanut Butter Cup, and Chubby Hubby.
And I’m not sure where we’d be without coffee.
Different varieties of coffee have specifically adapted to different climates around the world. That’s what makes them all so unique. But one study predicts that the number of pre-existing regions suitable for growing coffee could shrink anywhere from 65 percent to 100 percent by 2080. That means a whole lot less of your favorite pick-me-up flavors, like Coffee, Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz and Coffee Caramel Fudge Non-Dairy.
But climate change doesn’t just threaten our suppliers. It hurts the Vermont brand.
Perhaps no company is more closely identified with the wholesome and natural image of Vermont than Ben & Jerry’s. For 40 years we have served as an ambassador for Vermont and our way of life all around the world. We are so proud of Vermont’s farms, fields, blue skies and mountains that we put them on every package we make and sell in 38 countries around the world.
But as climate pollution rises and Vermont politicians delay action, we risk damaging the image of the Green Mountain State. With President Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord and CO2 emissions in Vermont on the rise, America’s reputation – and Vermont’s – is at risk. Strong action will ensure we protect our state, its people, our land, and Vermont’s brand.
We need to do more to reduce carbon pollution. Fast.
Failing to do our part and live up to our commitments to reduce emissions threatens the image of our state and by extension the reputation of companies like Ben & Jerry’s.
That’s why years ago Ben & Jerry’s put an internal price on carbon emissions that encourages us to reduce fossil fuel waste, while providing the resources needed to upgrade our equipment and become even more efficient. It’s a program that works for Ben & Jerry’s and will work for the state of Vermont too.
We are asking Vermont policymakers to step up and do what companies and countries all over the world have done: put a price on carbon. It’s not the only thing we’ll need to do to solve the climate crisis, but pricing carbon pollution is the single-most effective and efficient way to reduce emissions. It’s the low-hanging fruit — we should grab it and get started.
The time to act is now. Because if it’s melted, it’s ruined.
