ALEC state politicians, corporate lobbyists, and right-wing operatives are gathering at the four-star Grand Hyatt Washington to discuss and vote on model policies and resolutions to further climate delayism and preserve the use of fossil fuels, alter state election codes, protect purveyors of misinformation, privatize education, and push their extremist agenda in other ways.
Environment
DonorsTrust Injected More Than $150 Million in Untraceable Cash Into Right-Wing Groups in 2023
DonorsTrust — the donor conduit favored by the Koch political network — funneled over $152.5 million to MAGA groups, right-wing national and state think tanks and litigation centers, hate groups, youth groups, and more in 2023, according to an analysis of its latest IRS filing obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy.
Dispatches From the COP29 Climate Talks in Baku
Here at COP29, I had a conversation with Zerin Osho, director of the India Program at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development based in Washington, D.C., about the critical need to address methane and other types of emissions that trap even more heat than carbon dioxide does.
The American Invasion: Climate Denialism Crosses the Atlantic
In a coordinated effort to undermine climate science and slow environmental progress, prominent American climate change denial organizations recently teamed up with conservative European climate denialist groups to strategize on defeating climate solutions that threaten the fossil fuel industry or are otherwise deemed too radical.
Utility-Backed Candidates and Undemocratic Oversight Create Obstacles to Arizona’s Transition to Clean Energy
A recent Arizona primary election sheds light on the entrenched power of the state’s utilities, with critics worried that more state representatives may work at the behest of the utilities instead of focusing on much-needed reforms to accelerate Arizona’s move towards renewable energy.
Koch Invests in Massive Land Grab From West African Herders
An investment arm of the largest private company in the U.S. — Koch, Inc. — is investing in an agricultural business venture that will provide corporations with carbon offsets while pulling local natural resources from almost 7.2 million acres of land in three West African countries.
ALEC Moves a Partisan and Corporate Agenda at This Week’s Annual Meeting in Denver
American Legislative Exchange Council state lawmakers, right-wing operatives, and corporate lobbyists are descending on Denver this week for the pay-to-play group’s 51st Annual Meeting to hear presentations and vote on model policies and resolutions that impact the environment, education, elections, fundamental human rights, and more.
Groups Behind State Anti-ESG Legislation Received $85 Million From Corporate Billionaires and Dark Money Funds
A review of IRS tax filings reveals that six of the groups leading the legislative attack against environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing principles have received more than $85 million in recent years from several large foundations.
Big Oil’s Plan To Criminalize Pipeline Protests
At the urging of their fossil fuel donors, lawmakers are quietly working to massively expand criminal penalties against people who protest pipelines as part of negotiations over essential new federal pipeline safety regulations.
Big Oil Backs GOP Effort to Shield the Industry from Climate Litigation
The Republican attorneys general trying to block climate change lawsuits are funded by fossil fuel interests.