Hushing and hedging: US companies retreat on climate

Some companies are talking less about their climate commitments, while others are shifting the goalposts or quietly letting targets lapse. In President Donald Trump's second term, major American businesses are bending with the political winds and stepping back from environmental commitments in line with what scientists say is required to prevent the worst consequences of human-caused global warming. Climate Week NYC, which begins Sunday, is an annual jamboree of civil society, governments and companies on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "It's probably the biggest year I've had companies saying, 'Well, we haven't got anything to announce, so you know, I'm not sure we'll be on stage,'" Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, which organizes the event, told AFP. "We're seeing 'green hushing' is definitely increasing, and that's a real challenge because I think if we all give in to this idea that the word climate should never be spoken, that is a lost battle." The explosion of AI data centers looms large over the trend, as US tech companies rush to finance private gas plants to power them. Earlier this year, Meta left the Climate Group's RE100 -- a voluntary pledge by leading companies to source all their electricity from renewables -- fueling speculation that other tech giants could follow. It's not just Big Tech, though. Dylan Tanner, executive director of InfluenceMap, a think tank that tracks corporate climate policy and lobbying, said automakers were among the worst offenders.

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Published

19 Sep 2026

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English