Multinationals' Political Activities on Climate Change

Journal Article · Fri Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Business and Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650307301383· OSTI ID:20962162

Kolk, A; Pinkse, J ^[1]

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1. University of Amsterdam Business School, Amsterdam (Netherlands)

This article explores the international dimensions of multinationals' corporate political activities, focusing on an international issue - climate change - being implemented differently in a range of countries. Analyzing data from Financial Times Global 500 firms, it examines the influence on types and process of multinationals' political strategies, reckoning with institutional contexts and issue saliency. Findings show that the type of political activities can be characterized as an information strategy to influence policy makers toward market-based solutions, not so much withholding action on emission reduction. Moreover, multinationals pursue self-regulation, targeting a broad range of political actors. The process of political strategy is mostly one of collective action. International differences particularly surface in the type of political actors aimed at, with U.S. and Australian firms focusing more on non-government actors (voluntary programs) than European and Japanese firms. Influencing home-country (not host-country) governments is the main component of international political strategy on climate change.

• OSTI ID: 20962162
• Journal Information: Business and Society, Journal Name: Business and Society Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 46; ISSN 0007-6503
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
CLIMATIC CHANGE
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES
POLITICAL ASPECTS