Accountability

The accountability principle requires companies to be responsible or answerable to someone for something. Accountability requires companies to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences of those actions, and to be able to legitimately justify these actions and consequences. In the specific context of this project, ‘something’ refers to companies’ accountability for their climate change lobbying activities and impacts, and ‘someone’ refers to anyone involved in or in some way affected by the shaping, delivery and impact of corporate climate change lobbying. The scope of those parties involved in or affected by corporate lobbying includes not only to a company’s direct stakeholders but also to wider society.

Consistency

This consistency principle requires companies to be consistent in their messaging and actions in all of their interactions with stakeholders. It requires companies to align their direct and indirect policy engagement with their stated objectives and commitments, to ensure that public and private messaging are aligned. In the specific context of this project, companies are expected to commit to aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and to ensure that all of their lobbying efforts are consistent with this overarching commitment. Companies are expected to implement overarching positions from which specific actions and positions can be defined for the regions they operate, the platforms they use for influence, and the different divisions within companies. The consistency principle requires companies to pay attention to trade associations and to other areas of collective action. In situations where these entities are inconsistent with companies’ own policies, companies are expected to take action to address these inconsistencies.

Legitimacy

This legitimacy principle refers to the lobbying methods and strategies used by companies. It requires companies to only use publicly acceptable lobbying methods, to use evidenced arguments and to be clear on the potential benefits and costs – to the company and to society - of climate change policy. Conversely, illegitimate lobbying activity can range from illegal activities through to legal activities that breach business ethics or that only serve the company’s narrow interests. In the specific context of this project, the legitimacy principle requires companies not to support any policy measures that could undermine the delivery of the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Opportunity

The opportunity principle requires companies to proactively seek out opportunities to support the development and implementation of effective public policy. In the specific context of this project, it requires companies to seek out opportunities to positively lobby on climate legislation and to support efforts to develop a robust regulatory framework for effective climate transition. It also requires companies to think holistically about opportunities and benefits, looking beyond the company’s own interests and analysing and explaining how climate change policy benefits wider stakeholders and society as a whole.

Transparency

The transparency principle requires companies to make their views on policy known, and to clearly explain how the issue in question and the resultant existence or absence of policy are relevant to the business. In the specific context of this project, it requires companies to be clear on their motivations for climate lobbying, on the activities they have undertaken and the outcomes from both direct and indirect engagements. It requires this information to be made available in a timely manner, publishing material as it becomes relevant to the lobbying process not just after the outcome of the lobbying activity is known.