McDonald's won't meet some emissions goals, citing energy crunch

McDonald's Corp. said it doesn't expect to reach a goal of reducing emissions from its supply chain and franchised restaurants by 2030, the timeline it had originally laid out.

"In many regions, growth in energy demand is outpacing the current speed of clean energy deployment," the company said in a statement Tuesday. "At the same time, global supply chains remain extremely fragile as they navigate long-lasting impacts of global events and geopolitical disruptions."

In response, McDonald's said it's investing $1 billion in the next decade in supply chain initiatives, including in areas such as regenerative agriculture. The company said it's prioritizing programs that help "keep food affordable" and supply steady.

The burger chain still wants to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and said that it substantially met a goal of sourcing packaging from renewable, recycled or certified materials as of the end of 2025.

McDonald's is still on track to exceed scope 1 and 2 emissions climate goals for 2030, which are more directly tied to the company's operations, it said.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 7:14 PM.