This is the first iteration of our analysis of the climate change risk assessment, governance, advocacy, and engagement practices of the largest publicly traded U.S. companies. The initial focus list for this analysis was the S&P 100 as of 2019. Given mergers and other consolidations at the time of publication, this number was reduced to 96.
In this analysis, Practicing Responsible Policy Engagement: An assessment of large U.S. companies, Ceres has analyzed how the largest publicly traded U.S. companies perform against the expectations laid out in the 2020 Ceres Blueprint for Responsible Policy Engagement on Climate Change. Specifically, we conducted a detailed review of the climate change risk assessment, governance, advocacy, and engagement practices of 96 U.S. companies.
This report provides the state of play on the extent to which large U.S. companies are supporting the passage of science-based climate change policies, and where their policy advocacy efforts may be undermining their own best interests, as well as the broader interests of the economy and the communities in which they operate. The analysis also provides insights into where corporate lobbying on climate change policy may be misaligned with the publicly stated goals companies are setting on climate change, and their evaluations of their own climate change risk exposure. It highlights hurdles that are preventing corporate adoption of more responsible policy engagement practices. Finally, the report includes helpful peer studies of leading best practices.
The analysis and dataset can be used by companies to gain a deeper understanding of their systems and performance on responsible policy engagement on climate change. Investors can use the information provided to engage their portfolio companies on both the risks and opportunities associated with climate lobbying practices.