Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Illinois Chamber of Commerce (IL Chamber) is negatively engaged on climate policy in Illinois and at the federal level. The group has extremely limited top-line messaging on climate change, but has consistently opposed policy to decarbonize transportation and energy production.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: InfluenceMap has not identified any evidence of top-line positions from the Illinois Chamber on the need for IPCC-demanded emissions reductions, climate regulation in general, or the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: The IL Chamber has consistently opposed legislation in Illinois to address climate change. In March 2024 testimony to the Illinois Legislature, the group opposed House Bill 1634, which would require Illinois to adopt the vehicle standards of the California Air Resources Board, including stringent emissions standards, fuel economy standards, and zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) targets. Previously, in a September 2021 Government Affairs report, the IL Chamber opposed emissions limits on gas peaker plants in the Illinois Clean Energy and Jobs Act.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The Illinois Chamber of Commerce generally opposes policy to transition the energy mix. In an April 2024 joint letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the IL Chamber advocated for the EPA to reject California’s request to regulate rail transport more strictly than federal standards, which would likely result in the decarbonization of passenger and freight rail in California. The group also signed a March 2024 coalition letter advocating for the Biden administration to resume liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. In a July 2023 article published in the Chicago Business Journal, the Illinois Chamber appeared to oppose building electrification mandates in a Chicago suburb, emphasizing the cost of electrification. In March 2023, the Illinois Chamber signed a coalition letter advocating for the passage of federal permitting reform for energy projects without specifying support for renewable energy projects or excluding fossil fuel infrastructure. Previously, in a September 2021 Government Affairs report, the IL Chamber opposed the early retirement of coal assets.
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 Q4 2024.