JBS, the world’s largest meatpacking company, is set to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) this week, marking a major milestone for the Brazilian-based giant. The listing, originally scheduled for Thursday, was delayed by a day and is now expected Friday.
This move comes despite years of controversies surrounding the company, ranging from environmental damage to corruption. JBS’s parent company pleaded guilty in 2020 to U.S. bribery charges, and critics have long questioned the company’s commitment to climate responsibility.
Environmentalists and lawmakers have raised concerns about JBS’s massive emissions—reportedly comparable to the entire state of Michigan. These emissions come primarily from cattle farming, a methane-intensive process with significant land-use implications.
Even more troubling, JBS’s estimates omit emissions from deforestation, a key environmental issue in Brazil. Though the company claims these calculations are being “improved,” skeptics argue this is a tactic to downplay true climate impact.
In 2024, the New York Attorney General sued JBS for misleading climate advertising, or “greenwashing,” pointing to the company’s claim it would reach net zero emissions by 2040—a goal deemed misleading by regulators.
Fifteen U.S. senators, led by Senator Ron Wyden, formally objected to JBS’s listing in a letter to the SEC, citing deforestation-linked supply chains and emissions misrepresentation. Despite this, the SEC approved the listing in April.
Senator Elizabeth Warren also criticized the company’s political ties, highlighting a $5 million donation from Pilgrim’s Pride—majority-owned by JBS—to Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
Experts suggest that the Trump administration’s relaxed stance on corporate accountability may have encouraged JBS to proceed now. Jay Ritter, an IPO expert from the University of Florida, noted the timing may reflect confidence that federal oversight would be minimal under current leadership.
The administration has indeed paused multiple investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and rolled back several environmental protections.
In parallel developments, the Trump-led EPA is dismantling key pollution and climate rules on power plants. Meanwhile, global energy politics are shifting, with the World Bank ending its decades-long ban on funding nuclear projects—possibly opening doors for developing nations to pursue cleaner but politically sensitive energy sources.
Rooftop solar also faces a serious threat. A new G.O.P.-backed bill in Congress could gut residential solar tax credits. Industry experts say this would slash installations by half and make solar panels financially unattractive for average homeowners.
JBS’s listing on the NYSE symbolizes more than a corporate expansion—it’s a litmus test for how the U.S. market handles foreign companies with controversial records. From emissions to political influence, the questions raised around JBS may set new precedents in climate accountability and investor transparency.
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