The LobbyMap database is updated on a weekly basis. This tool allows users to keep track of how the world's largest and most influential companies and industry associations are seeking to influence climate policy in real-time.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently held a hearing from 19-21 August, on its proposal to both repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which is the legal foundation for the regulation of greenhouse gasses, and also, to repeal all existing GHG emissions standards for motor vehicles.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents various vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, and BMW, testified at the hearing and stated existing GHG emissions standards are “unachievable,” and advocated to create an interim GHG rule, which conflicts with the EPA’s proposal to do away with GHG emissions regulations entirely. The American Petroleum Institute (API) also testified at the hearing, and appeared to support the proposal, and opposed the existing GHG emissions standards for motor vehicles. API represents most major petrochemical companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP.
Chevron CEO, Mike Wirth promoted gas investments and raised concerns with Western Australia’s domestic gas reservation policy in a direct meeting with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, as reported by The Australian on 15 August. Wirth also cautioned against a global transition away from fossil fuels and appeared to support the US Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement, in an interview with The Australian published on the same day.
In a 28 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) supported the decarbonization of the steel industry, stressing its economic and technological feasibility. The company highlighted the need for increased policy measures, including green premiums, as well as investment and government funding in research and development (R&D) to increase the development of breakthrough technologies for decarbonization. In the same article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) broadly supported a phaseout of blast furnace steelmaking and the use of coal, while advocating a continued role for fossil gas for the transition period without placing clear conditions on the deployment of CCS or methane abatement measures. POSRI supported an energy transition pathway that includes an increase in renewables and nuclear, but there is some ambiguity regarding the pace and extent of this transition and its alignment with IPCC recommendations.
According to 2 July National Assembly Policy Data, POSCO broadly supported an increase in green hydrogen and zero-emissions hydrogen, especially produced from nuclear power, for direct reduced iron (DRI) steelmaking to decarbonize the steel industry at a Policy Discussion on Hydrogen Reduction Steelmaking and Nuclear Power Plant Utilization for Carbon Reduction.
In a 22 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) generally supported the electrification of transport and buildings while communicating the need to increase the share of renewable energy. POSRI mentioned electrification as an 'essential element for achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets'.
In a 26 August media release, Business for 75, a coalition of business leaders calling for Australia to commit to a 2035 emissions target of at least 75%, released modelling by Deloitte suggesting that Australia's GDP will likely be $370 billion greater by 2035 under a 75% emissions reduction target, compared to current projections. The coalition's media release was accompanied by supporting comments from a number of Australia's largest companies, including Fortescue Chief Executive Dino Otranto, who stated that the "Australian business community is ready to back a strong emissions target of 75 per cent".
The Business for 75 campaign's open letter to the Australian Government has been signed by over 350 businesses, including IKEA, Unilever, Atlassian, Fortescue, Volvo Group Australia, Squadron Energy, the Energy Efficiency Council and the Smart Energy Council.
The Australian Government is intending to release its final target in "the coming weeks" according to a 15 August Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council Communique.
As reported in a 17 August Sydney Morning Herald article, Shell told the federal government it could support new gas reservation rules if applied equitably across the industry, but only alongside regulatory changes to accelerate drilling and new gas supply, according to comments from Shell Australia chair, Cecile Wake. Wake claimed that without measures to expand supply, reservation would curb investment and worsen the problem it sought to address.
In statements published 7 August in Transport Topics, Daimler Truck supported EPA's proposal to repeal GHG emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The EPA's complete proposal would repeal GHG emissions standards for light-, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles that are currently in effect, future GHG regulations, in addition to repealing the "endangerment finding," the EPA rule that allows the agency to regulate GHG emissions.
In a 5 August article published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the industry association opposed mandatory measures to decarbonize corporate fleets. Citing lack of affordability, insufficient infrastructure and a weak second-hand market, ACEA called instead for "well-designed incentives" and a "non-legislative proposal". This comes ahead of the European Commission's Greening Corporate Fleets proposal scheduled for Q4 2025.
Mercedes-Benz CEO and European Automobile Manufacturers Association President, Ola Kallenius, has opposed the EU's 2035 100% reduction target for light-duty vehicles. In a 11 August article, Reuters reported that Kallenius called for a "reality check" on the target as it may "collapse" the European car market. Kallenius argued that consumers would rush to buy petrol and diesel cars in the run-up to 2035 and that the EU should instead focus on tax incentives and cheap electricity prices. This comes whilst the EU CO2 standards for light-duty vehicles is under review, with a public consultation currently open.
PACCAR, Daimler Truck, and Volvo Group filed a lawsuit on 11 August against the California Air Resources Board, seeking to exit the Clean Trucks Partnership, an agreement the companies voluntarily reached with the state in 2023. In the agreement, manufacturers agreed to attempt to meet the targets of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation and to not file a petition for review or challenge California's authority for the regulation. If courts rule in favor of the manufacturers, they will likely be exempted from the requirements of the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation in the state of California.
In a 15 July press release from the 'Solar Energy Sector’s Public-Private Consultative Body Meeting' held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA) called for policy to support the recycling of used solar panel by establishing a domestic resource circulation system.
In a 7 July eNews Today article, POSCO Holdings supported a long-term role for nuclear power in the energy mix and called for revising Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to include nuclear power, but POSCO's position on a full transition towards a zero-emission energy system was unclear. In a 3 August Yeongnam Economic News article, POSCO Holdings supported an expanded role for zero-emissions hydrogen, especially hydrogen produced from nuclear, in the steel industry, but it was unclear if the company supported a full transition in line with IPCC recommendations.
In a 28 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) appeared to support a weaker 2035 GHG Emissions Reduction Target (Nationally Determined Contribution) in South Korea. POSRI called for establishing 'feasible and reasonable' 2035 NDC target that reflects both realistic implementation capabilities and a vision for a future decarbonization transition.
In a 16 July press release, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) appeared to support renewable energy legislation and submitted a proposal to revise renewable energy legislations for the energy transition to the government. This proposal included improvements to the Farmland Act and easing the solar panel separation distance regulation. However, in a 1 July press release at an SGI Sustainable Growth Forum, KCCI supported renewable energy in principle, but appeared to argue that the transition should occur without government intervention or regulatory support. KCCI emphasized harmonizing industrial policy with innovation and market principles, while quoting the State Affairs Planning Committee "support but do not interfere."
A growing number of businesses are calling on the Australian Government to commit to a +75% emissions reduction target by 2035. Over 300 businesses have signed on to the Business for 75% campaign, including Fortescue, Unilever, Atlassian, Volvo Group Australia, Squadron Energy and the Smart Energy Council. The federal government is required to announce its 2035 emissions reduction target by September.
In a 23 July Business Community Proposal for Establishing Carbon Neutrality and Sustainability Policies, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) supported expanding government measures to decarbonize South Korea’s heavy-duty vehicle sector. FKI proposed expanding subsidies and charging infrastructure to promote the replacement of aging construction equipment with electric alternatives, and called for government support for mobile hydrogen refueling stations to accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption. FKI also supported government incentives to reduce emissions in South Korea’s steel industry. However, it was unclear whether FKI supported a full transition of the steel sector in line with IPCC recommendations.
In the same proposal, FKI supported measures to limit the negative biodiversity impacts of large-scale solar installations and emphasized the need for government intervention to expand solar and wind energy in South Korea’s energy mix. FKI noted that the country’s fossil fuel–reliant grid results in a high national average emission factor, placing domestic companies at a disadvantage under global carbon regulations. The proposal called for a full-system transition—across generation, transmission, and consumption—through measures such as expanding solar and wind power, decommissioning old coal plants, refurbishing nuclear facilities, hydrogen co-firing, and deploying electric boilers, heat pumps, EV charging management, and on-site generation.
In a 4 August press release, the Electric Vehicle Council Chief Executive Julie Delvecchio advocated for Australia’s Electric Car Discount to be maintained, stating that the end of this purchase incentives program “would pull the handbrake on electric vehicle adoption across Australia.” Delvecchio’s comment follows the publication of the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Investing in cheaper, cleaner energy and the net zero transformation which included a recommendation to remove the exemption of electric vehicles from the Fringe Benefits Tax upon the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. The CEO argued that this move is “short-sighted”, emphasizing the need for both policies to “work together, not in isolation.”
In a 30 July press release, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) issued a statement calling on the current U.S. administration to acquire a national exemption from the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) so U.S. forest product producers can avoid “burdensome obligations.”
In a 4 August press release, Korea Iron and Steel Association (KOSA) welcomed a 'Special Act on Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Steel Industry and Transitioning to Green Steel Technology', which was proposed by co-representatives of the National Assembly Steel Forum. This Special Act includes investment and government funding in research and development (R&D) to increase the development of breakthrough technologies to decarbonize the steel industry. KOSA expressed its expectations around the policy "strengthening the competitiveness of the steel industry and establishing a sustainable industrial foundation".
