Environment & Climate
Fossil fuel lobbyists simultaneously represent hundreds of cities seeking climate funding, study finds
An analysis of congressional disclosures reveals that lobbying firms hired by fossil fuel companies also represent local governments pursuing climate damage recovery.
The short version
- An analysis of Q1 2026 congressional lobbying disclosures found that lobbying firms representing fossil fuel companies simultaneously work for over 300 local governments seeking climate damage recovery.
- Researchers identified another 568 local governments employing the same lobbying firms for non-climate or climate-adjacent issues, such as home insurance and healthcare.
- Advocates argue this creates potential conflicts of interest, as firms like Greenberg Traurig lobby for oil interests opposing state-level climate superfund laws while representing local governments affected by climate impacts.
Key facts
- An analysis by F Minus and Make Polluters Pay of Q1 2026 disclosures found fossil fuel lobbyists simultaneously represented over 300 local governments seeking funding to recover from climate damage.[The Guardian]
- The analysis showed another 568 local governments hired fossil fuel lobbyists for non-climate issues, including climate-adjacent topics like healthcare and home insurance.[The Guardian]
- Multinational law firm Greenberg Traurig lobbied for fossil fuel entities like the American Petroleum Institute, ConocoPhillips, and the Western States Petroleum Association while representing local governments like Miami-Dade County, Westchester County, and Rochester.[The Guardian]
- A Brown University Climate and Development Lab report found registered lobbyists opposed state climate superfund legislation in every state legislature where such bills were introduced.[The Guardian]
- Representative Harriet Hageman and Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act in April 2026 to dismiss climate accountability lawsuits and prohibit climate superfund laws.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The extent to which behind-the-scenes lobbying influences lawmakers in closed-door meetings cannot be systematically analyzed through public records.[The Guardian]
- Greenberg Traurig and officials from Miami-Dade County, Westchester County, and Rochester did not respond to requests for comment regarding the alleged conflict of interest.[The Guardian]