Multinationals' Political Strategies on Climate Change

Abstract

This paper explores the international dimensions of multinationals' corporate political activities, focusing on an international issue - climate change - that is being implemented differently in a range of countries. Analyzing data from FT Global 500 firms, it examines the influence on types and process of multinationals' political strategies, reckoning with institutional contexts and issue saliency. Findings show that the type of political activities can be characterized as an information strategy to influence policymakers towards market-based solutions, not so much withholding action on emission reduction. Moreover, multinationals pursue self-regulation, targeting a broad range of political actors. The process of political strategy is mostly one of collective action. International differences particularly surface in the type of political actors aimed at, with US and Australian firms focusing more on non-government actors (voluntary programs) than European and Japanese firms. Influencing home-country (not host-country) governments is the main component of international political strategy on climate change.

Keywords: political strategy, climate change, multinationals, corporate political activity; institutions

JEL Classification: F23, G38, H7, M1, L1, L2, O38, Q2, Q4