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While many of the world’s major polluters have pledged to cut their greenhouse gas pollution, a new report has named and shamed some of the world’s biggest companies, accusing them of thwarting steps to limit climate change, including oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, and global car firm Toyota.
These are the key points
- ExxonMobil and Toyota were ranked among the worst for lobbying against climate action
- Negative “influencers” are also listed by industry groups such as the Minerals Council or the oil and gas peak body, APPEA.
- They deny lobbying governments to stop global warming action and support net zero by 2050
Two Australian lobby groups working for the fossil fuel industry have also been outed in a list of the world’s most obstructive organisations when it comes to pushing back on climate change policy.
InfluenceMap, a climate advisory firm based in London, makes its claims against the backdrop of intense lobbying behind-the scenes at the UN climate summit in Glasgow.
Edward Collins, director of InfluenceMap, told AM that the transition to clean energies would be difficult unless countries took action to end the lobbying by vested interests.
“Companies (are) using a lot of advertising and PR to try and sway climate politics.”
Minerals Council, APPEA on shamelist
Top of the list in terms of trade lobbying groups were the American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. Also, the US Chamber of Commerce and the US National Mining Association topped the list.
The Minerals Council of Australia and Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association are accused of taking a negative approach on climate policy, even beyond the attitudes of their staunchest members, such as mining giants, BHP and Rio Tinto.
“From both, we see very strong engagement on climate policies, pushing the role fossil fuels to a way that’s misaligned from science-based benchmarks and science-based paths on how to deliver Net Zero. Perhaps this isn’t surprising considering their remit, however, many companies that these representatives have committed to net zero,” Mr Collins said.
Andrew McConville, chief executive at APPEA denied that the group lobbies for climate change action.
“We as an industry are absolutely committed to net zero and that’s the fact that, you know, these guys at InfluenceMap conveniently ignore.”
He said that while he was happy to accept scrutiny, he was committed to net zero.
Mr McConville also rejected suggestions the industry group was “obstructionist.”
The Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable said she noted “InfluenceMap’s ongoing inability to properly report MCA’s climate change position.”
Ms Constable stated that Influence Map’s criticisms of the MCA’s support for low-emission technologies and characterization of this as weakening EU’s classification system is the most puzzling.
‘The Climate Policy Framework report analysed 50,000 pieces of public and private disclosures and ranked the 50 most “obstructive” companies and trade associations lobbying behind the scenes on climate policies.
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The global ranking of the most influential and negative companies on climate was led by the US.
The report accused ExxonMobil, Chevron, Toyota, US power firm Southern Company, and North American electric and gas infrastructure company Sempra, of being the “top five most negatively influential global companies” on global commitments to reduce global warming.
Mr Collins said the results reflect intense resistance by the resources industry to the Biden Administration’s efforts to transition the US economy away from fossil fuels.
The report said that Toyota Motor campaigned against proposed regulations globally to phase out internal combustion engines in favour of electric vehicles.
It was joined by BMW (18th), General Motors (20th) Daimler (24th) and Hyundai (25th) from the automotive sector, which the report said was regarded as highly negative on climate policy.
