Yara International ASA sustainability score: 21/100

Yara discloses Scope 1+2 absolute emissions (16.3Mt CO2e, 2024) with third-party limited assurance and multi-year tracking aligned to GHG Protocol. However, reported figure excludes Freeport and Hull facilities, rendering the 'comprehensive' claim incomplete and capping the score.

Scope 3 from fertilizer use (42.8Mt CO2e, 73% of total footprint) is disclosed but not quantified year-on-year. Upstream Scope 3 (purchased ammonia, raw materials) explicitly excluded from targets despite investor coalition criticism. No full life-cycle assessment targets exist.

Scope 1+2 emissions rose from 15.6Mt (2023) to 16.3Mt (2024). Intensity targets met but absolute reductions absent. Scope 3 rising with production growth (8% increase planned 2023–2025). No evidence of near-term absolute decline trajectory.

Yara is the EU's largest industrial natural gas buyer; ~90% of energy for ammonia production is fossil-based. A 24-MW green hydrogen electrolyzer (started June 2024) produces 20,500 mt/year green ammonia—trivial against 7.8Mt/year total output. No RE100 membership or company-wide renewable electricity target.

Yara recognizes fertilizer-driven eutrophication, dead zones, and nitrous oxide emissions. Member of SBTN and OP2B, published Nature Position Paper. No TNFD-aligned disclosure confirmed, no quantified nature footprint, no deforestation-free commitment. Core business model remains ecologically damaging.

Yara launched Sustainable Procurement Policy (2022) and acquired organic/recycled fertilizer brands (Ecolan, Agribios). Life-cycle footprinting begun 2022 appears stalled (FAIRR reports no 2024 updates). No verified circular economy targets at scale; business remains linear fossil-gas-to-nitrogen model.

Yara acknowledges fertilizer-driven eutrophication and waterway pollution. Montoir de Bretagne plant fined €61,500 (September 2021) for excess nitrogen/phosphorus discharge and placed under enhanced surveillance. Water withdrawal tracked but concentrations at priority sites not disclosed despite 2023 commitment to do so.

Yara submitted 30% Scope 1+2 (2030, 2019 baseline) and 11.1% Scope 3-use targets to SBTi, remaining in 'committed' status for 5+ years without validation. Fertilizer sector SDA delayed from 2022 to 2024. No SBTi net-zero target. 2025 KPI was intensity-based, not absolute reduction.

Yara publishes CSRD/ESRS-compliant Integrated Report (2024, March 2025), TCFD-aligned disclosures, multi-year KPI tracking, and EU Taxonomy reporting. MSCI A rating; Refinitiv 83/100. Executive remuneration linked to sustainability KPIs. SBTi validation remains pending; Hull/Freeport exclusion and undisclosed trade association climate alignment are transparency gaps.

Montoir de Bretagne water discharge fine (€61,500, 2021). Yara holds Vice-President role in Fertilizers Europe and sits on CEFIC boards identified by InfluenceMap as having 'mix of supportive and unsupportive' climate positions. ShareAction, Corporate Europe Observatory, and ASEED document credible greenwashing and lobbying for fossil gas.