A Climate of Corporate Control

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed 28 S&P 500 companies to determine their impact on climate science and policy discussions. The study found that while some companies are consistent in their support for climate action, others—particularly in the energy sector—actively spread misinformation and obstruct policy. Many companies exhibit contradictory behavior, supporting climate science in public relations while opposing it in government filings or through the funding of anti-science think tanks and trade groups. The report highlights a critical lack of transparency in corporate political spending and business risk disclosures, recommending stricter SEC and congressional requirements to hold corporations accountable.

• A subset of powerful U.S. corporations has significantly influenced public understanding and the progress of national climate policy by misrepresenting science and opposing regulatory action.
• Energy-producing companies are primary sources of climate misinformation, utilizing direct public statements, lobbying, and the funding of think tanks and trade groups to erode public understanding and weaken policy support.
• Many corporations engage in contradictory behavior, expressing support for climate science in public-facing venues while opposing it in government filings or through the organizations they fund.
• Corporate funding of outside organizations often lacks transparency, as companies can bypass IRS disclosure requirements for philanthropic arms by giving directly to groups, some of which take anti-science positions.
• Publicly traded companies often fail to fully disclose the material business risks associated with climate change in their SEC Form 10-K filings, despite government guidance to do so.
• Analysis of political spending shows a high ratio of funding toward 'anti-climate' members of Congress for several energy companies; for example, Murphy Oil Corporation's ratio was 29:1 and ConocoPhillips' was 15.4:1.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). A Climate of Corporate Control. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/a-climate-of-corporate-control-summary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. A Climate of Corporate Control. 2012. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/a-climate-of-corporate-control-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=A Climate of Corporate Control |date=May 2012 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/a-climate-of-corporate-control-summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2012climate, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{A Climate of Corporate Control}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2012}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/a-climate-of-corporate-control-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }