These updates capture the most important items of evidence collected by the LobbyMap platform, allowing users to track how companies are industry associations are seeking to influence climate policy in real-time.
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA), representing Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, released a statement supporting the Canadian government's decision to waive the federal EV mandate for the 2026 model year. The government previously mandated that at least 20 percent of new light-duty vehicles should be zero-emission by 2026, but will now conduct a 60-day review of the policy. The CVMA is advocating for a full repeal of the regulation as the most effective way to maintain industry competitiveness.
In its 19 August response to the EU’s consultation on rules for single-use plastic and recycled plastic content, ExxonMobil supported the weakening of what it perceived to be a “restrictive approach to mass balance” proposed by the European Commission. In addition, it advocated for the inclusion of chemical recycling as a process eligible for recycled content credits, and claimed that the current proposals lack the flexibility needed to preserve European competitiveness. ExxonMobil warned that if competitiveness is not sufficiently safeguarded, companies may “rethink their commitment to the region”.
In 3 September letters to the US House and Senate, the Natural Gas Council -- comprised of the CEOs of the American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Natural Gas Supply Association, and Interstate Natural Gas Association of America -- advocated for permitting reform policies that facilitate the deployment of fossil gas infrastructure projects. The letters called for a range of policy measures, including the elimination of "unnecessarily protracted NEPA reviews," in order "to provide the long-term regulatory certainty needed for natural gas infrastructure investment." These industry associations continue to obstruct US climate policy and strategically advocate for fossil fuel infrastructure. Congress has returned from August recess and is already proposing permitting reform in line with the Trump administration's fossil fuel and deregulatory agenda.
Clean energy industry groups Advanced Energy United and American Clean Power Association opposed the Trump Administration's stop work order on the Revolution Wind Project, emphasizing that stopping construction on the wind project off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut -- which was 80 percent complete -- will raise energy prices and result in job losses. In a 22 August press release, ACP CEO Jason Grumet stated that "the Trump Administration is raising alarms about rising energy prices while blocking new supply from reaching the grid." Advanced Energy United communicated a similar position around affordability in a 3 September interview with Factor This, underscoring how New England's abundance of offshore wind, especially during the colder winter months, would have been a significant way to avoid the "volatile pricing" of fossil gas.
In an 8 September press release, the Australian Energy Producers (AEP) supported the Western Australian Government’s forthcoming State Development Bill 2025. AEP praised the Bill’s objective of fast-tracking approvals for “strategic” projects, arguing it would unlock new fossil gas supply to meet WA’s growing energy demand and strengthen economic and energy security. It also stressed fossil gas’s role in electricity generation, mining, and minerals processing, and claimed that WA gas helps Asian trading partners reduce emissions.
Support for new fossil gas supply contradicts guidance from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which states that a combination of early retirements, reductions in utilization, and the cancellation of new fossil fuel infrastructure would be needed to meet the 1.5°C target.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently held a hearing from 19-21 August, on its proposal to both repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which is the legal foundation for the regulation of greenhouse gasses, and also, to repeal all existing GHG emissions standards for motor vehicles.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents various vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and BMW, testified at the hearing and stated existing GHG emissions standards are “unachievable,” and advocated to create an interim GHG rule, which conflicts with the EPA’s proposal to do away with GHG emissions regulations entirely. The American Petroleum Institute (API) also testified at the hearing, and appeared to support the proposal, and opposed the existing GHG emissions standards for motor vehicles. API represents most major petrochemical companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP.
Chevron CEO, Mike Wirth promoted gas investments and raised concerns with Western Australia’s domestic gas reservation policy in a direct meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, as reported by The Australian on 15 August. Wirth also cautioned against a global transition away from fossil fuels and appeared to support the US Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement, in an interview with The Australian published on the same day.
In a 28 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) supported the decarbonization of the steel industry, stressing its economic and technological feasibility. The company highlighted the need for increased policy measures, including green premiums, as well as investment and government funding in research and development (R&D) to increase the development of breakthrough technologies for decarbonization. In the same article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) broadly supported a phaseout of blast furnace steelmaking and the use of coal, while advocating a continued role for fossil gas for the transition period without placing clear conditions on the deployment of CCS or methane abatement measures. POSRI supported an energy transition pathway that includes an increase in renewables and nuclear, but there is some ambiguity regarding the pace and extent of this transition and its alignment with IPCC recommendations.
According to 2 July National Assembly Policy Data, POSCO broadly supported an increase in green hydrogen and zero-emissions hydrogen, especially produced from nuclear power, for direct reduced iron (DRI) steelmaking to decarbonize the steel industry at a Policy Discussion on Hydrogen Reduction Steelmaking and Nuclear Power Plant Utilization for Carbon Reduction.
In a 22 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) generally supported the electrification of transport and buildings while communicating the need to increase the share of renewable energy. POSRI mentioned electrification as an 'essential element for achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets'.
In a 26 August media release, Business for 75, a coalition of business leaders calling for Australia to commit to a 2035 emissions target of at least 75%, released modelling by Deloitte suggesting that Australia's GDP will likely be $370 billion greater by 2035 under a 75% emissions reduction target, compared to current projections. The coalition's media release was accompanied by supporting comments from a number of Australia's largest companies, including Fortescue Chief Executive Dino Otranto, who stated that the "Australian business community is ready to back a strong emissions target of 75 per cent".
The Business for 75 campaign's open letter to the Australian Government has been signed by over 350 businesses, including IKEA, Unilever, Atlassian, Fortescue, Volvo Group Australia, Squadron Energy, the Energy Efficiency Council and the Smart Energy Council.
The Australian Government is intending to release its final target in "the coming weeks" according to a 15 August Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council Communique.
As reported in a 17 August Sydney Morning Herald article, Shell told the federal government it could support new gas reservation rules if applied equitably across the industry, but only alongside regulatory changes to accelerate drilling and new gas supply, according to comments from Shell Australia chair, Cecile Wake. Wake claimed that without measures to expand supply, reservation would curb investment and worsen the problem it sought to address.
In statements published 7 August in Transport Topics, Daimler Truck supported EPA's proposal to repeal GHG emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The EPA's complete proposal would repeal GHG emissions standards for light-, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles that are currently in effect, future GHG regulations, in addition to repealing the "endangerment finding," the EPA rule that allows the agency to regulate GHG emissions.
In a 5 August article published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the industry association opposed mandatory measures to decarbonize corporate fleets. Citing lack of affordability, insufficient infrastructure and a weak second-hand market, ACEA called instead for "well-designed incentives" and a "non-legislative proposal". This comes ahead of the European Commission's Greening Corporate Fleets proposal scheduled for Q4 2025.
Mercedes-Benz CEO and European Automobile Manufacturers Association President, Ola Kallenius, has opposed the EU's 2035 100% reduction target for light-duty vehicles. In a 11 August article, Reuters reported that Kallenius called for a "reality check" on the target as it may "collapse" the European car market. Kallenius argued that consumers would rush to buy petrol and diesel cars in the run-up to 2035 and that the EU should instead focus on tax incentives and cheap electricity prices. This comes whilst the EU CO2 standards for light-duty vehicles is under review, with a public consultation currently open.
PACCAR, Daimler Truck, and Volvo Group filed a lawsuit on 11 August against the California Air Resources Board, seeking to exit the Clean Trucks Partnership, an agreement the companies voluntarily reached with the state in 2023. In the agreement, manufacturers agreed to attempt to meet the targets of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation and to not file a petition for review or challenge California's authority for the regulation. If courts rule in favor of the manufacturers, they will likely be exempted from the requirements of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation in the state of California.
In a 15 July press release from the 'Solar Energy Sector’s Public-Private Consultative Body Meeting' held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA) called for policy to support the recycling of used solar panel by establishing a domestic resource circulation system.
In a 7 July eNews Today article, POSCO Holdings supported a long-term role for nuclear power in the energy mix and called for revising Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to include nuclear power, but POSCO's position on a full transition towards a zero-emission energy system was unclear. In a 3 August Yeongnam Economic News article, POSCO Holdings supported an expanded role for zero-emissions hydrogen, especially hydrogen produced from nuclear, in the steel industry, but it was unclear if the company supported a full transition in line with IPCC recommendations.
In a 28 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) appeared to support a weaker 2035 GHG Emissions Reduction Target (Nationally Determined Contribution) in South Korea. POSRI called for establishing 'feasible and reasonable' 2035 NDC target that reflects both realistic implementation capabilities and a vision for a future decarbonization transition.
In a 16 July press release, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) appeared to support renewable energy legislation and submitted a proposal to revise renewable energy legislations for the energy transition to the government. This proposal included improvements to the Farmland Act and easing the solar panel separation distance regulation. However, in a 1 July press release at an SGI Sustainable Growth Forum, KCCI supported renewable energy in principle, but appeared to argue that the transition should occur without government intervention or regulatory support. KCCI emphasized harmonizing industrial policy with innovation and market principles, while quoting the State Affairs Planning Committee "support but do not interfere."
This investor briefing explores the importance of climate policy engagement disclosure and how investors can use LobbyMap's metrics to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and completeness of disclosures.
This briefing analyzes the corporate and industry influence on the Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS) over the 15-year timeframe, led by the cross-sector industry associations and steel industry to weaken the ambition and effectiveness of the policy.
A new briefing analyzing corporate Australia's engagement with the Future Made in Australia plan and positioning on the possible future role of nuclear power generation.
This briefing explores key trends in company performance identified by InfluenceMap’s assessments for the October 2024 iteration of the CA100+ Net Zero Company Benchmark.
This briefing explores and provides updates on key trends in company performance identified by InfluenceMap’s assessments for the October 2023 iteration of the CA100+ Net-Zero Company Benchmark.
Analyzing fossil fuel advocacy on Australia’s Future Gas Strategy
