- InfluenceMap reports 23% of European companies now align lobbying with EU climate goals, up from 3% in 2019
- Companies
misaligned with EU climate policy decreased from 34% to 14%
- Over
half of the assessed companies are at least partially aligned with the Paris
Agreement targets
- Industry
trade associations show slower progress, with only 12% aligned or partially
aligned by 2025
- Discrepancy
between corporate commitments and trade association lobbying raises concerns
about policy influence
- Companies
like Unilever are addressing misalignments with their trade groups to mitigate
reputational risks
- Analysts
emphasize the need for greater transparency in corporate lobbying activities
- The
European Commission's shift towards competitiveness post-2024 elections draws
criticism from environmental groups
- InfluenceMap's
findings suggest a growing corporate support for ambitious climate policies
- The
report underscores the importance of aligning public commitments with
behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts
European corporations are increasingly aligning their lobbying efforts with the European Union's climate objectives, according to a recent report by the think tank InfluenceMap.
The analysis reveals that 23% of major European companies now advocate for policies consistent with the EU's climate strategies, a substantial rise from just 3% in 2019.
Additionally, the proportion of companies deemed misaligned with EU climate policy has decreased from 34% to 14% over the same period.
The report, which assessed 200 of Europe's largest businesses, indicates that over half are at least partially aligned with the Paris Agreement targets.
This shift suggests a growing recognition among corporations of the importance of proactive climate advocacy.
However, the study also highlights a significant lag among industry trade associations. Only 12% of these groups are aligned or partially aligned with EU climate goals as of 2025.
This discrepancy raises concerns about the influence of trade associations on climate policy, especially when their positions do not reflect the evolving stances of their member companies.
"Those vocally organizing to oppose the energy transition achieve outsized importance across public debate," notes Venetia Roxburgh, an analyst at InfluenceMap.
This suggests that despite the positive shift among individual companies, the collective voice through trade associations may still hinder progress.
Some companies are taking steps to address these inconsistencies. Unilever, for instance, has publicly acknowledged misalignments with certain trade groups and is working to rectify them to mitigate reputational risks.
The report underscores the need for greater transparency in corporate lobbying activities. Analysts emphasize that aligning public commitments with behind-the-scenes advocacy is crucial for genuine progress on climate policy.
As the European Commission shifts its focus towards competitiveness following the 2024 elections, environmental groups express concern that this may lead to a deprioritization of climate initiatives.
The InfluenceMap findings suggest that a significant portion of the corporate sector supports ambitious climate policies, challenging narratives that pit environmental responsibility against economic growth.