"Top Companies' Lobbying Undermines Their Climate Pledges, Study Finds"

"LONDON - Glencore, ExxonMobil and Stellantis are among companies lobbying for policies that conflict with their own pledges to cut carbon emissions, a study published by non-profit think tank InfluenceMap on Thursday found.

The report assessed 293 companies from the Forbes 2000 list and found that of those with a net-zero emissions or similar climate target, nearly 60% are at risk of "net zero greenwash" due to their lobbying.

InfluenceMap uses the United Nations' High-Level Expert Group's (HLEG) "Integrity Matters" guidance on the need to align lobbying with climate commitments. Lobbying includes companies' direct policy influencing activities, and that of their industry associations.

Catherine McKenna, chair of the U.N.'s HLEG on Net Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities, said the findings should be a "wake-up call" for businesses."

Tommy Reggiori Wilkes reports for Reuters November 16, 2023.

Source: Reuters, 11/17/2023