Catalyzing Action on Climate Change: Stopping Denialism and the Role of Business

The document calls for the business and insurance sectors to stop funding climate denialism and instead catalyze ambitious action to limit global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius. It highlights the role of fossil fuel companies in subverting legislative action and the severe economic costs of climate change, citing the Philippines as an example. The author advocates for holding company directors personally liable for misleading the public about climate risks and urges insurers to reconsider providing coverage for anti-climate activities.

• Fossil fuel companies have been reported to fund "grassroots" campaigns specifically designed to subvert legislative action on climate change.
• Climate change skepticism in the United States is significant, with 25% of Americans being "solidly skeptical" of global warming and only 39% identified as "concerned believers."
• The economic impact of increased cyclonic activity due to climate change in the Philippines is estimated at $6.5 trillion in today's dollars (assuming a 1% discount rate), which represents -2,382% of the country's current GDP of $272 billion. Using a 5% discount rate, the loss is estimated at 83% of the current GDP.
• CIEL, Greenpeace International, and World Wildlife Fund International have questioned fossil fuel company directors and officers regarding their personal liability for misleading regulators, investors, or the public about climate change risks.
• The author urges the insurance industry to evaluate the ethics of providing directors and officers (D&O) liability coverage for activities related to climate denialism.

APA

Korol, M. M. (2014). Catalyzing Action on Climate Change: Stopping Denialism and the Role of Business. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/catalyzing-action-on-climate-change-stopping-denialism-and-the-role-of-business/

Chicago

Korol, Muriel Moody. Catalyzing Action on Climate Change: Stopping Denialism and the Role of Business. Center for International Environmental Law, 2014. https://www.ciel.org/catalyzing-action-on-climate-change-stopping-denialism-and-the-role-of-business/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Korol |first1=Muriel Moody |title=Catalyzing Action on Climate Change: Stopping Denialism and the Role of Business |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=11 September 2014 |url=https://www.ciel.org/catalyzing-action-on-climate-change-stopping-denialism-and-the-role-of-business/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{korol2014catalyzing, author = {Korol, Muriel Moody}, title = {{Catalyzing Action on Climate Change: Stopping Denialism and the Role of Business}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2014}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ciel.org/catalyzing-action-on-climate-change-stopping-denialism-and-the-role-of-business/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }