In recent years, corporations and their agents
have played an increasing role in the national
conversation on climate change, with companies
weighing in not only on policy debates
but also participating in discussions of climate
science. To better understand this growing corporate
influence, we analyzed the actions of
many of the most highly engaged companies.
Our analysis reveals that while some American
companies have taken consistent and laudable
actions in support of climate science—and of
consequent policy—others have worked aggressively
to undermine the science and block sciencebased
policy proposals. Still other companies
have taken contradictory actions in different
venues. Such inconsistent corporations create
confusion by representing the scientific consensus
accurately in some venues but not in others,
and by supporting politicians, trade groups, and
think tanks whose positions are in direct conflict
with one another. The resulting defeat or delay
of policy efforts to address climate change has
huge implications for government, the economy, public well-being and the planet. Greater transparency in corporate activities can
further illuminate the corporate influence, both
positive and negative, that this report has been
able to document. We thus recommend specific
actions that policy makers, investors, consumers,
and the media can take in order to guide the
nation down a path of greater corporate
accountability.