We have expanded the list of climate policies we assess company engagement with to incorporate land-use related policy, referring to legislative or regulatory measures to enhance and protect ecosystems and land where carbon is being stored. Assessments under this category are currently underweighted in terms of their contribution to the overall company metrics. This weighting will be progressively increased over the next 6 months.
We adjusted the terminology used to describe the queries running down the left-hand side of our scoring matrix and added additional explanatory text to the info-boxes. This has no impact on the scores and methodology. It has been done following user feedback to improve clarity.
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of Caterpillar is on the USCC Board of Directors (as of March 2023)
Denise Johnson
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-Iraq Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-Japan Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-Turkey Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Member of US-Pakistan Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exec. is on the board of directors of Brazil-US Business Council, which operates under the US Chamber of Commerce
Odair Renosto
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-UK Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Caterpillar is on the Board of Directors of USCC
Bradley Halverson
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of Caterpillar is on the USCC Board of Directors (as of March 2023)
Denise Johnson
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-Iraq Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-Japan Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-Turkey Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Member of US-Pakistan Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Exec. is on the board of directors of Brazil-US Business Council, which operates under the US Chamber of Commerce
Odair Renosto
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar is a member of the US-UK Business Council
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Senior Executive of Caterpillar is on the Board of Directors of USCC
Bradley Halverson
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Judith Marks sits on the Caterpillar Board of Directors, and Chairs the Business Roundtable Trade & International Committee (as of February 2023)
Judith Marks
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
The Chairman of Caterpillar is a member of Business Roundtable (as of August 2022)
D. James Umperly
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Catepillar CEO is on Executive Committee
Doug Oberhelman
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Judith Marks sits on the Caterpillar Board of Directors, and Chairs the Business Roundtable Trade & International Committee (as of February 2023)
Judith Marks
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
The Chairman of Caterpillar is a member of Business Roundtable (as of August 2022)
D. James Umperly
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
Catepillar CEO is on Executive Committee
Doug Oberhelman
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar Senior executive serves on NAM's board of directors (as of August 2022)
Denise C. Johnson
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar Senior executive serves on NAM's board of directors (as of August 2022)
Denise C. Johnson
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of Caterpillar is on the Board of Directors (as of March 2023)
Wayne Zemke
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A senior executive of Caterpillar is on the Board of Directors (as of March 2023)
Wayne Zemke
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar was a member of America's Power as of January 2021, unclear if still a member (as of December 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Caterpillar was a member of America's Power as of January 2021, unclear if still a member (as of December 2022)
not specified
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive of a subsidiary is on the Executive Committee of World Coal (Janpeter Bekkering, Caterpillar Global Mining) (as of August 2022)
Janpeter Bekkering
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive of Caterpillar Global Mining is on the Executive Committee of World Coal
Janpeter Bekkering
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive of a subsidiary is on the Executive Committee of World Coal (Janpeter Bekkering, Caterpillar Global Mining) (as of August 2022)
Janpeter Bekkering
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
Executive of Caterpillar Global Mining is on the Executive Committee of World Coal
Janpeter Bekkering
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A major Caterpillar subsidiary (Caterpillar UK Limited) is a member of SMMT (as of August 2022)
n/a
--no extract--
InfluenceMap Data Point on Corporate - Influencer Relationship
(1 = weak, 10 = strong)
A major Caterpillar subsidiary (Caterpillar UK Limited) is a member of SMMT (as of August 2022)
n/a
--no extract--
In this section, we depict graphically the relationships the corporation has with trade associations, federations, advocacy groups and other third parties who may be acting on their behalf to influence climate change policy. Each of the columns above represents one relationship the corporation appears to have with such a third party. In these columns, the top, dark section represents the strength of the relationship the corporation has with the influencer. For example if a corporation's senior executive also held a key role in the trade association, we would deem this to be a strong relationship and it would be on the far left of the chart above, with the weaker ones to the right. Click on these grey shaded upper sections for details of these relationships. The middle section contains a link to the organization score details of the influencer concerned, so you can see the details of its climate change policy influence. Click on the middle sections for for details of the trade associations. The lower section contains the organization score of that influencer, the lower the more negatively it is influencing climate policy.
Open PDF file of Data Source
Climate Lobbying Overview: Caterpillar appears to have limited transparent engagement with climate policy from 2019-23. The company recently updated its top-line positions to include support for climate action and policies including the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act. At the same time, the company remains a member of numerous industry associations actively lobbying against climate policy around the world and serves on the Board of Directors at both the National Association of Manufacturers and US Chamber of Commerce.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: On the climate page of its corporate website, accessed August 2022, Caterpillar offers a general statement accepting the science of climate change, global efforts to reduce emissions in line with the science. In its 2022 Lobby Report from February 2023, it expresses support for the goals of the Paris Agreement. It does not take a clear position on the need for climate change regulation. Previously, in a statement removed from its website by the end of 2021, the company suggested uncertainty in the science of climate change by stating “we understand that some atmospheric scientists believe atmospheric GHG accumulation can occur as a result of inefficient or excessive fossil fuel consumption.”
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Caterpillar demonstrates highly limited engagement with specific climate policies from 2019-22. In it’s Q4 2022 Lobbying Disclosure, the company discloses engagement on the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle (QCCV) tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, however does not state its position. In its Q3 2021 to Q2 2022 federal LDA reports, Caterpillar discloses engagement on the corporate tax provisions of the Build Back Better Act without disclosing a position or specifying engagement on the bill's climate provisions.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Caterpillar appears to have limited engagement with policy related to the energy transition from 2019-22. In February 2023, the company released it’s 2022 lobbying report, within which it disclosed its advocacy for the climate provisions within the CHIPS Act. It also disclosed support for the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, noting the potential for the legislation to fund low-carbon technology and establish a national network of EV charging stations. Prior communications on Caterpillar’s corporate website suggesting support for a high GHG emissions energy mix via “energy diversification” and the build out of fossil fuel infrastructure, such as new fossil gas reserves, have been removed as of August 2022.
Industry Association Governance: In its 2022 Lobbying Report Caterpillar disclosed its membership to trade associations it contributes $25,000+ to annually, however has not provided detailed information on its type of membership, role within, or how the company attempts to influence its climate position, in each one. It has not published a formal review of its alignment with its industry associations. The company is a member of numerous US-based and global industry associations and third-party groups actively lobbying in opposition to climate policy; Caterpillar executives also serve on the Board of both the US Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers, both of which are actively obstructing US climate policy, including the Build Back Better and Inflation Reduction Act. The company is also on the Board of the Consumer Energy Alliance, a 501(c)4 group that is negatively influencing US climate policy at the national and state level.
A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q1 2023.