Climate Change Talks Spark Global Backlash by Business, Industry

WASHINGTON – November 4 – Global attempts to craft a pivotal new climate treaty in Copenhagen this December are being stymied by a far-reaching, multinational backlash led by fossil fuel industries and other heavy carbon emitters, according to The Global Climate Change Lobby, a new project by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Employing thousands of lobbyists, millions in political contributions, and widespread fear tactics, entrenched interests worldwide are thwarting the steps that scientists say are needed to stave off a looming environmental calamity, the investigation found. Beginning November 5, the ICIJ series will be released on the web and in partner media outlets in the weeks leading into the December 7, 2009 global summit in Copenhagen. The Global Climate Change Lobby (www.icij.org) will roll out investigative stories from around the world, as well as blogs, “tweets” (@climatelobby), and interactive graphics. This series by ICIJ, an arm of the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity, builds upon the Center’s groundbreaking Climate Change Lobby reports, which examined how special interests have shaped the climate bill debate in Washington, D.C.

The Global Climate Change Lobby focuses on those economies expected to play a key role in the talks leading up to a treaty: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, and the United States.