Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) exhibits active policy engagement in the US that is misaligned with science-based climate policy. NAM consistently supports a long-term role for fossil fuels in the energy mix, and has specifically advocated for the repeal of the EPA’s power plant rules, opposed policy to decarbonize transportation, and supported increased production and export of liquified natural gas (LNG) from the US. In addition to legislative and regulatory lobbying, the association has an active legal program for influencing court cases in its members' interests.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The NAM demonstrates mixed top-line messaging on climate change. In its “Policy Positions” report from February 2024, the organization appeared to acknowledge the science of climate change and broadly supported GHG emissions reductions “consistent with the Paris Agreement.” However, the organization opposed “regulatory overreach” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a December 2024 press release hosted on its website. In a January 2025 article also on its website, NAM appeared to support the Trump administration’s 2025 withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Policy: The NAM has opposed various forms of climate policy. In an April 2025 letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, NAM supported a repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)’s methane fee. The organization appeared to oppose a wide range of energy efficiency standards implemented by the Biden administration in an April 2025 letter to the Secretary of the US Department of Energy (DOE), Chris Wright. Similarly, in a December 2024 letter to the incoming Trump administration, the group opposed more stringent energy efficiency standards from the DOE and advocated against the US taking an ambitious position on the UN Global Plastics Treaty, emphasizing the economic benefits of plastics and the need to promote "demand-side policies" to prevent plastic pollution.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The NAM has maintained a negative position on the energy transition and has consistently supported a long-term role for fossil fuels in the energy mix. In August 2025 comments to the EPA, NAM advocated for the repeal of the finalized carbon standards for power plants. NAM previously advocated for the repeal of the power plant rules in an April 2025 letter to the EPA Administrator. In June 2025 comments to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NAM supported an expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration in US waters.
In a June 2025 joint letter signed by many of its members, the group endorsed the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, which proposed to repeal or rapidly phase out many of the Inflation Reduction Act's climate incentives and which facilitates the buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure. While NAM advocated for Congress to protect the IRA’s clean hydrogen tax credit in a June 2025 letter to the US Senate, it appeared to emphasize the role for fossil gas-based hydrogen in the credit. The group previously opposed ambitious implementation requirements for the hydrogen tax credit in a February 2024 comment submitted to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
NAM has strongly advocated permitting reform for energy projects in the US, with a particular focus on support for fossil fuel infrastructure. In August 2025 comments to the EPA, the organization specifically advocated for permitting reform and other policy measures to support hydrogen produced from fossil gas. The same month, NAM submitted comments to the EPA advocating for changes to Clean Water Act permitting regulations to support energy development. In April 2025, NAM submitted a letter to the Secretary of the US Department of the Interior that supported measures to accelerate critical mineral mining to support batteries and grid infrastructure, while also advocating for the expansion of oil and gas exploration in the US. In December 2024, NAM signed a joint letter with US trade groups calling for permitting reform to facilitate the buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure.
In addition, the organization has consistently supported the development of liquefied natural gas exports from the US. In an April 2025 letter to the Secretary of the DOE, NAM strongly promoted the economic benefits of LNG and critiqued a Biden administration study that found significant drawbacks to LNG use. In a December 2024 letter to the incoming Trump administration, the group advocated for a repeal of the Biden administration's LNG export ban. The organization took the same position in February 2024 testimony to the US House of Representatives and regularly supports LNG exports in its public communications, including in a July 2025 X post.
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 Q3 2025.