U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC)

Further information

Click on the sections below to read more.

Paris Agreement and net-zero emissions

• USCC has stated support for US participation in the Paris Agreement.[5]
• In 2022, USCC had official observer status for COP27 and sent its “largest ever delegation” to “help demonstrate just how seriously the business community takes its commitment to combatting climate change”.[6] It provided a summary of its engagement on its website.[7]
• USCC has not stated a position on net-zero emissions, though some of its communications refer to net-zero emissions. [8]
• In 2022, USCC opposed the US Inflation Reduction Act, signing a joint industry letter to Congress and writing to Senate members urging them to oppose the legislation.[9] [10] USCC has stated that it opposed the Inflation Reduction Act due to “tax increases and price controls”.[11] However, USCC noted there were “parts of the bill that would advance progress on climate and energy security”.[12] Shell supported the legislation, which has been described as the “largest climate investment in American history”.[13]

Carbon pricing

• USCC has stated support for “market-based solutions to reduce emissions and support U.S. competitiveness, national security, and American workers”.[14] USCC has not stated support for putting a direct price on carbon.

Energy efficiency

• The USCC’s ‘Global Energy Institute’ states that “the Chamber believes that an effective climate policy should aggressively pursue greater energy efficiency”, adding that “improving energy efficiency on both the supply and demand sides can bring almost immediate benefits to business operations and the environment.”[15]

Decarbonised hydrogen

• USCC has stated support for policies that advance decarbonised hydrogen.[16] [17]
• In a 2022 statement on the US Inflation Reduction Act, USCC stated it had supported the “significant clean energy provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law”, including the incentives for hydrogen.[18]
• In a 2022 letter to the House Committee on Appropriations, USCC stated support for full funding for the Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) office to pursue technology advancements, including those related to hydrogen.[19]

Natural ecosystems

• In 2021, USCC stated support for the Senate Passage of the Growing Climate Solutions Act, stating that “the business community has made ambitious commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and needs every tool in the climate action toolbox, including voluntary carbon offset markets.”[20] [21]

Carbon capture and storage

• USCC has stated support for policies that encourage the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCUS).[22] [23]
• In a 2022 USCC statement on the US Inflation Reduction Act, USCC stated that the bill’s “commitment to advancing Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology development through the expansion of the 45Q tax credit will prove to be a major boon for energy security and addressing climate change” and that “CCUS provides one of the only pathways to decarbonizing the industrial sector, with potential applications for electricity generation and hydrogen production.”[24]
• In a 2022 letter to the House Committee on Appropriations, USCC stated support for full funding for the Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) office to pursue technology advancements, including those related to CCUS.[25]

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and benchmarks, sustainable finance taxonomies

• USCC has stated that public companies “have been and will continue to meet the interests of their investors on climate-related information” and “in 2019, the U.S. Chamber released ESG reporting principles to help facilitate increased climate reporting to meet the needs of investors and illustrate the individual circumstances of industries and businesses.”[26]
• In its 2022 response to the SEC’s proposed climate-related disclosure rule, USCC stated it was “committed to working constructively with the SEC to develop clear and workable rules for climate disclosures that build from industry experience and provide meaningful information to investors”, but also noted a number of concerns with the SEC’s proposal.[27] Shell stated support for the SEC’s proposal, but also noted a number of concerns.

Coal

No position

Electrification with renewable or low-carbon power

• USCC has stated that it “strongly supports the transition of our electric generation fleet and the overall economy to cleaner, less carbon-intensive energy sources”.[28]
• In a 2022 USCC statement on the US Inflation Reduction Act, USCC stated that the bill allows for renewable generation to be “further bolstered through the long-term extension of tax credits for wind and solar generation, in addition to support for the expansion of storage technologies necessary to compensate for the intermittent availability of wind and solar”.[29]
• In a 2022 USCC statement “The next shortage: Electricity?”, USCC stated that “the nation’s investor-owned utilities have a strong commitment to clean electricity. In fact, they are committed to making our electricity as clean as they can, as fast as they can do it. However, the electric utility sector does not yet have the tools to reliably operate a 100% clean energy grid.”[30]

Gases and methane

• USCC has stated support for policies that recognise natural gas as an essential resource for maintaining low and stable energy prices.[31]
• USCC has stated support for reducing methane emissions, including “smart, balanced regulations and voluntary actions to reduce methane from the oil and gas sector”.[32] [33]
• In its January 2022 letter in response to the EPA’s proposed methane rule for new, reconstructed, and modified sources, USCC stated support for the regulation under very strict conditions.[34]
• In its November 2022 statement on EPA’s proposed methane rule for existing sources, USCC stated its support for smart, balanced regulations and that it would work with EPA to “help develop an effective final rule”.[35] USCC also stated that it was “interested in how it will interact with the methane fee provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act”.[36]
• USCC has stated support for the Global Methane Pledge.[37] [38]
• USCC has not stated a position on ending routine flaring by 2030 or sooner.

Road transport: Passenger cars and vans

• USCC has stated support for policies that encourage growth in electric vehicles.[39]
• In its 2022 submission to the Federal Highway Administration on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, USCC stated: “Effective implementation of programs such as NEVI and Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program (CFIP) are important for realizing widespread adoption of electric vehicle (EV) technology.”[40]
• In 2022, USCC stated support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,[41] and noted the bill’s policies directed at investment in electric vehicles.[42]
• In 2022, USCC hosted an event at COP27 titled “Accelerating Transportation Solutions in the U.S. and Around the World”, which “discussed how business leadership and technology innovation coupled with practical, durable policies are critical to decarbonizing the transportation sector”.[43]

Road transport: Heavy-duty vehicles

• USCC has stated support for policies that encourage the decarbonisation of transport, including heavy-duty road transport.[44]

Heavy industry decarbonisation

• USCC has noted the importance of CCUS and hydrogen in helping to reduce heavy industry carbon emissions.[45] [46]

Aviation

No position

Shipping

No position

Return to list of associations