Ikea, Unilever and Tesla leading on climate policy, report finds

The A-List of Climate Policy Engagement report, published today (3 April) maps the 20 business leaders that are calling for more ambitious climate policy across the globe. Companies like Apple, Unilever, Tesla and Ikea are listed atop the rankings, with a separate list added detailing the companies close to breaking into the top 20.

To qualify as a business leader, companies must showcase sectoral leadership, be vocal in calling for ambitious policies and must align these calls with their own strategic activities. The rankings are based on InfluenceMap analysis of more than 30,000 data points and disclosures from companies and trade associations.

Commenting on the report, Volans’ chairman and corporate sustainability pioneer John Elkington said: “This A-List mapping is a critically important step towards evolving a continuous X-ray of business efforts to influence public policy on climate and related agendas.”

Companies like Unilever were praised for the involvement of the chief executive, in this case Paul Polman, in providing a strong message and stance towards climate action. Companies like AkzoNobel, GSK and Nestlé score highly for corporate strategies.

The list will be updated bi-annually with an additional 10 companies added. The current iteration of the report also features 20 companies likely to make future versions of the top 20 but are currently being held back in some way.

Lobbying links

Links to lobby and trade groups opposing climate policy are holding back Nissan, Honda and Microsoft, while “low engagement intensity” on strategic planning is preventing Walmart, Vodafone and United Technologies from featuring.

Most of the largest companies have a net negative impact on climate policy through trade association links, the reported found. Exxon, Shell, IBM, Total and Pfizer all scored negatively for links to lobbying networks such as the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) and BusinessEurope are three trade organisations in Europe that are opposing ambitious climate policy.

Last September, InfluenceMap found that most of the globe’s 50 most influential companies on climate change legislation are actively lobbying against ambitious decarbonisation policy.

Energy-intensive firms such as BASF and Dow Chemical were among 35 of the 250 largest private corporations opposed to climate policy, according to the report. Also indicted are car manufacturers Fiat Chrysler, Ford, BMW and Daimler, all found to have lobbied to delay or dilute CO2 emissions standards and procedures both in Europe and America.

Ikea’s Hege Sæbjørnsen at edie Live

Ikea UK and Ireland’s country sustainability manager Hege Sæbjørnsen will be speaking on the Resource Efficiency theatre on Day Two of edie Live. The session focuses on the closed-loop business of the future, as we showcase how organisations are transforming business models and modifying supply chains to reshape waste management and recycling approaches.

Running between 22 – 23 May 2018, edie Live plans to show delegates how they can achieve their Mission Possible. Through the lens of energy, resources, the built environment, mobility and business leadership an array of expert speakers will be on hand to inspire delegates to achieve a sustainable future. For more information click here.

Matt Mace