Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Deere & Company (John Deere) appears to have very low direct engagement with US climate policy and limited disclosure of its climate policy positioning in 2018-20. However, Deere & Company is a member of multiple highly active trade associations, including the US Chamber of Commerce, who are lobbying against ambitious US climate policy.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Deere & Company does not appear to have disclosed its top-line positioning on climate policy. In key communications, such as its 2020 Sustainability Report, Deere & Company has not communicated positions on the Paris Agreement, GHG emissions regulations, or the global response required on climate change as set out by the IPCC. In its 2020 10-K report, Deere & Company appears to acknowledge some of the science of climate change while taking no clear position on climate regulation.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In 2018-20, Deere & Company demonstrated limited direct engagement with US climate policy. Deere & Company does not directly disclose their positions towards or engagement with any climate change policy in their communications, and does not provide a dedicated disclosure on their climate positioning or lobbying. Furthermore, Deere & Company’s 2020 CDP Questionnaire Response did not disclose its engagement or positioning on any climate legislation with the exception of biofuels legislation, which it appears to support.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Deere & Company appears to have limited messaging regarding its positioning on the energy transition. A November 2020 blog from Deere & Company appears supportive of the transition to low-carbon energy to support rural farmers. Furthermore, public messaging from the John Deere European Technology Centre in 2017 and 2020 appears supportive of the electrification of transportation.
Industry Association Governance: Deere & Company publicly discloses a list of its memberships to industry associations on its website without disclosing its direct engagement with them on climate change, their climate policy positions, or Deere & Company’s role within each association. In its 2020 CDP response, Deere & Company did not disclose its membership with any trade association. Deere & Company is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, which are actively and negatively lobbying US climate policy. It is also a member of Business Roundtable which has mixed lobbying on US climate policy.