Unilever has threatened to pull out of industry groups whose policy positions are inconsistent with the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The London-based consumer products company made the announcement in early March. Detailed evaluation We have 27 member organizations out of more than 600 organizations. These organizations, ranging from the American Cleaning Industry Association to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, were chosen because of their high emissions and the potential for achieving Unilever's climate change goals to depend heavily on climate policy. Unilever said this is because they represent a sector with a high level of
Objective: Assess whether your organization supports or hinders the development of regulations, standards, and other policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero.
Unilever's research found that eight industry bodies, including the European Industry Roundtable and the German Chemical Industry Association, diverged from at least one of the company's policy positions. 18 people were „matched“. Eight companies had no public record of „meaningful engagement“ with the government, and four had „low engagement,“ the company said.
This analysis includes concrete actions Unilever will take to encourage organizations to do more about climate change policy, while remaining open-minded about how to get there. . “What policies are most effective in a particular region or sector,” the analysis says.
Rebecca Marmot, Unilever's chief executive, said: „We know achieving full alignment will not be easy, but we are committed to practical and practical actions that associations can take over the next 12 months. I want to focus on that.“ on the blog. “We want the association to be a catalyst for positive policy change, but if we are unable to do so, we reserve the right to withdraw dues.”
This is not just a threat. Unilever quietly left the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest trade group, several years ago, citing historical hostility toward environmental policy, according to reports. 2017 survey by the Guardian. Such positions are relatively rare. The vast majority of companies touting net-zero targets do not support commitments to support climate change policies, either directly or through industry associations. InfluenceMap November Survey.
„Unilever's review of industry associations is unusual and deserves praise,“ said Bill Weil, founder and co-executive director of Climate Voice, a nonprofit organization urging companies to do more to combat climate change. “Many companies that are vocal about important climate change policies undermine their claims by joining influential industry associations that regularly block policy progress.”
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Unilever's climate policy focus
that new climate change action planUnilever identifies five major areas where it wants to see change:
- National climate strategies that help make it economically viable for businesses to achieve ambitious emissions reductions.
- Support for pricing carbon emissions.
- Regulations that accelerate the expansion of renewable energy and the phasing out of fossil fuels, including the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies.
- Strengthen protection of nature and forests.
- Changes to carbon accounting standards to help companies drive action within their supplier networks.
Strong voice within industry associations
Unilever believes that both direct advocacy and policy involvement, as well as 'indirect' lobbying through membership in industry associations, are essential. I have been active in both fields. Here are two examples.
- The company left the European Chemical Industry Council in 2015 but rejoined in 2022 to boost support for climate policy. Unilever continues to agree with the Council's position on carbon pricing and grid decarbonisation.
- Unilever was the catalyst for the Personal Care Products Council's decision to add a sustainability committee focused on engagement in climate-related policy.
“Many companies have a greater influence on climate policy through their trade associations than directly because of the significant influence that large trade associations have, the influence they derive from the collective influence of all their members. Weil said. “Members have an obligation to take responsibility.”
Unilever reviews its industry association membership annually and is committed to a deeper review every three years, including information on its commitment to climate change policy. The list will be made public, with the first list expected to be published in 2025, the company said.
„We hope that the combination of constructive partnerships and increased oversight will not only help Unilever meet its climate goals, but will also have a knock-on effect for other companies working in this space,“ Marmot said. Ta.