Climate Change LobbyUndergoes Explosive Growth in Washington

More than 770 companies and organizations spent at least $90 million last year hiring 2,300 lobbyists to influence federal climate change policy, according to a new study. An analysis by the non-profit Center for Public Integrity shows that the number of climate change lobbyists has tripled since 2003, with 45 percent of them representing energy and manufacturing companies. Despite rapid growth in the number of lobbyists representing environmental, health, and alternative energy interests, they are still outnumbered 8 to 1 by lobbyists from industry and other sectors, the center’s report said. It also noted that while finance, insurance, and investment firms had virtually no presence in Washington when the climate legislation debate began in 2003, those interests have now hired 130 lobbyists in the hope of shaping carbon cap-and-trade legislation. “What’s clear is how difficult it will be for the Obama administration to get meaningful climate change legislation through Congress in the face of such an enormous lobbying push by so many special interests,” said the center’s executive director, Bill Buzenberg.