Corporations, Their Associations and Climate Action

30 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2017

See all articles by David Peetz

David Peetz

Griffith University - Research Center for Work, Organisations and Wellbeing and Department of Employment Relations

Georgina Murray

Griffith University - School of Humanities

Ian Lowe

Griffith University

Christopher Wright

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Organisation and Management

Date Written: February 28, 2017

Abstract

How do capitalist formations affect the climate crisis; are there inconsistencies between corporations and industry associations in the extent to which they engage with climate change issues; and if so, what purposes do industry associations and related think tanks serve? We outline the nature of the climate crisis and the problems arising from lack of adequate action and develop a model of capitalism and the carbon economy that distinguishes between corporations engaged in ‘blue’ and ‘brown’ capitalist accumulation, and locate divisions within capital within this framework. We show that industry associations and think tanks, while sometimes representing the interests of corporations as a whole, will, on average, also take positions that are more supportive of climate denial than many corporations themselves. This discrepancy between the positioning of corporations and industry associations appears to be greatest in North America and least in Asia. Finally, we conclude with an elaboration of how these concepts relate. One possible explanation for the discrepancy between industry associations and individual corporations is that the latter’s behaviour become responsive to and dominated by the target corporations with the most to lose from responding to the climate crisis. A second possibility is that industry associations are reflecting the true interests of their members, providing ‘distancing’ of controversial ideas from the corporations that constitute them, enabling corporations to pretend to support climate change action but fund activities against it. In all likelihood, they are a combination of both. In doing so, industry associations also become independent actors themselves, influencing the practices and ideologies of corporations, the state and the public.

Keywords: climate change, industry associations, corporations, carbon emissions, distancing, capitalism.

JEL Classification: Q54, D71, P19

Suggested Citation

Peetz, David and Murray, Georgina and Lowe, Ian and Wright, Christopher A., Corporations, Their Associations and Climate Action (February 28, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2952336 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2952336

David Peetz (Contact Author)

Griffith University - Research Center for Work, Organisations and Wellbeing and Department of Employment Relations ( email )

170 Kessels Road
Nathan, QLD 4111 QLD 4111
Australia

Georgina Murray

Griffith University - School of Humanities ( email )

170 Kessels Road
Nathan, QLD 4111 QLD 4111
Australia
(07) 387 57371 (Phone)
(07) 387 57730 (Fax)

Ian Lowe

Griffith University ( email )

170 Kessels Road
Nathan, Queensland QLD 4111
Australia

Christopher A. Wright

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Organisation and Management ( email )

Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

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