Is Fonterra guilty of 'putting profit before the environment'?

Greenpeace activists unfurled a 40sqm banner and chained themselves to machinery at the New Vale mine. Photo / Greenpeace

Greenpeace activists say they have shut down a pit at a coalmine used to help power a Fonterra dairy factory.

Greenpeace spokesman Simon Boxer said Fonterra was putting profit before the climate and the Government needed to bring it "under control".

"By being exempt from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), until 2015, agricultural greenhouse gas emitters are currently receiving a $1.1 billion subsidy from taxpayers," he said.

Is Fonterra guilty of 'putting profit before the environment'?