Perreault Magazine - 38 -
Continued from page 37
ACTIVISM AND CAMPAIGNS
On January 13, an Oregon District Court magistrate judge allowed lobbying groups representing some of America’s biggest polluters to join the case — the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute will now be arguing alongside the Obama administration that the young people don’t have a case. The pairing is an ironic one, given that energy lobbyists and Obama’s regulators are usually at odds when it comes to addressing climate change. But in this case, President Obama, his administration, and the industry are aligned: Should the kids win, a court would order regulators to use climate science to draw up plans that would quickly scale back America’s fossil fuel emissions before the Earth warms past critical tipping points. That’s a directive that both the administration and, of course, the fossil fuel industry don’t want to happen.
The Three trade organizations, representing nearly all of the world’s fossil fuel industry, that have joined the landmark suit are the following: AFPM-The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, API - The American Petroleum Institute and NAM- National Association of Manufacturers.
WHO DO THE LOBBY GROUPS REPRESENT?
AFPM:
BP, Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, Honeywell
API:
BHP Billiton, ConocoPhillips, Maersk Drilling, Shell (over 600 members)
NAM:
11,000 members, none disclosed on website
The trade associations, who will act with “one unified voice” called the case a “direct, substantial threat to [their] businesses,” according to a statement by the organisation assisting the youth, Our Children’s Trust. “That shows they understand the significance of the case,” said attorney for the plaintiffs Philip Gregory. “This litigation is a momentous threat to fossil fuel companies.”