Companies Quietly Scrub Green Policies From Their Websites As GOP Scrutiny Mounts
Nick Pope on July 13, 2023
Corporations have quietly removed references to their green energy commitments from their websites as Republican scrutiny of environmental, social and governance (ESG)-oriented investments and corporate practices mounts, according to The Washington Post.
These companies have been “greenhushing,” a term used to describe companies staying quiet about their climate commitments, in some cases motivated by fear of public criticism, according to The Washington Post. The “greenhushing” trend comes as conservative officials scrutinize ESG-oriented business practices and climate commitments on the grounds that such practices inject uneconomical, political concerns into their operations.
Financial giant BlackRock formerly signaled its green commitments prominently on its webpage for sustainable investing, according to The Washington Post, but that webpage no longer includes references to the firm’s 2050 climate goals. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in June that he is “not going to use the word ESG because it’s been misused.”
Charles Payne: “They’re vegans, they’re tree-huggers, they’re socially conscious. I mean, FTX had a high ESG score…they’re all gonna leave their money to the planet when they pass away, but while they’re on Earth, they’re creating financial havoc.” pic.twitter.com/e6AvRltNVr
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 16, 2022
Anheuser-Busch InBev has stopped running Facebook advertisements highlighting its pledges to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and use 100% recycled packaging by 2025, according to The Washington Post.
“Sustainability is core to our business,” Anheuser-Busch InBev Spokeswoman Ana Zenatti told The Washington Post. “We communicate our sustainability progress and efforts regularly across our channels, including AB InBev’s website and company newsroom and social channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.”
Of 1,200 surveyed large corporations, almost 25% do not plan to publicize their climate commitments, according to a 2022 report from South Pole.
Numerous Republican governors have recently targeted ESG policies, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arranging a coalition of 18 governors to fight ESG in March. Congressional Republicans have also examined ESG business and investment practices, criticizing the practice as a “scam” which unduly forces politics into business operations that should be apolitical.
Left-wing officials have slammed corporations for not pursuing ESG-aligned initiatives aggressively enough. Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California compared Republicans opposed to ESG mandates to followers of Leon Trotsky during a Wednesday House Financial Services Committee hearing.
Anheuser-Busch InBev did not respond immediately to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
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