SUPERMARKET giant Tesco was accused today of spouting “hot air” by claiming to be taking a leading role on climate change ahead of the Cop26 global climate conference in Glasgow next month.

The company, which is Britain’s biggest supermarket chain, has committed to reach net-zero emissions in its operational and supply chain by 2050.

But environmental group Greenpeace dismissed the pledge as “just hot air and an attempt to buy time.”

It accused Tesco of “knowingly pushing healthy forests and a stable climate further from reach” by buying meat from firms involved in destroying Amazon rainforests to clear space to raise cattle.

Greenpeace head of forests and food Anna Jones said: “Tesco is desperate to give the impression it’s leading the way on climate ahead of Cop26 next month.

“In its statement, Tesco fails to address the need to radically cut emissions now, having already failed [to hit] its original zero-deforestation target of 2020. 

“And it seems to expect rapturous applause for promising action over the next 29 years.

“The most glaring omission is a direct acknowledgement of the need to tackle the massive climate impact of its meat and dairy supply chain. 

“Boosting plant-based sales without a meat reduction strategy is meaningless. 

“It ignores the broken system that’s fuelling deforestation and fires across Brazil and that puts corprorate profits before indigenous peoples, whose land and lives are being torn apart to make space for animal feed.

“Real climate action means dropping forest destroyers immediately and publishing a plan to reduce industrial meat now. Anything less is just greenwash.”

Tesco was invited to comment.