Fonterra intends to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2030.
Chief executive Andrew Ferrier says the company will aim for the reduction for every litre of milk sourced and processed in New Zealand.
He told a climate change and business conference in Wellington that Fonterra believes it can reduce the emissions intensity of milk sourced and processed in New Zealand by at least 30% litre by 2030.
The Government is reviewing whether the agriculture sector will have to join the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2015, as currently proposed.
But Mr Ferrier says the ETS is already costing dairy farmers about $3600 per year in increased energy costs.
He says efficiencies can be made without having to pile more costs onto farmers, who have already reduced on-farm emissions by more than 8% since 2003.