"The Chamber of Commerce's Sordid History of Climate Denial"

"A new report chronicles the history of one of the most prominent denier groups—and helps us preview what's coming next."

"A new report from Brown University’s Climate and Development Lab deconstructs the messaging from one of the most aggressive climate denier organizations in the U.S.

Using publicly available internal documents from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the findings chronicle the group’s shifting methods of denial in a crucial 20-year period when it one of the most active groups lobbying against climate policy and casting doubt on climate science. The report analyzes different tactics the Chamber used in its messaging in this time period, giving us a glimpse into how the organization may rebrand itself in the future.

The Chamber is an incredibly powerful force in American—and even global—politics. The organization says it is the largest business group in the world, claiming to represent 3 million businesses of all sizes. In reality, the Chamber keeps member rolls and funding pretty close to the vest; analyses of tax documents have found that groups with dark money ties have consistently donated to the Chamber. Its current board includes representatives from FedEx, Nasdaq, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Facebook, the retired president of Shell, and several state and city chambers of commerce members."

Molly Taft reports for Earther June 29, 2021.

SEE ALSO:

"The US Chamber of Commerce Has Helped Downplay the Climate Threat, a New Report Concludes" (Inside Climate News)