Hilton, Marriott and Chipotle fund climate opposition despite public green goals

Major corporations, including Hilton, Marriott and Chipotle, are supporting trade groups that oppose key climate legislation in Colorado while promoting their own sustainability pledges.

Ben Elgin reports for Bloomberg.


In short:

  • Chipotle and other companies publicly commit to reducing emissions but support trade groups fighting local climate rules.
  • Industry groups are suing to overturn Colorado's greenhouse-gas reduction laws targeting buildings, which are major contributors to emissions.
  • These contradictions between corporate climate promises and actions could undermine state and city efforts to combat climate change.

Key quote:

“A lot of companies have sort of outsourced their climate obstruction to their trade associations.”

— Timmons Roberts, professor of environment and society at Brown University

Why this matters:

Corporate commitments to cut emissions mean little if those same companies support legal actions against climate regulations. Buildings contribute significantly to U.S. emissions, so blocking these rules delays progress toward greener cities and cleaner energy.

Related: Oregon’s biggest gas company isn’t as green as it claims

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin speaking with attendees at The People's Convention at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan.
Credit: Gage Skidmore/https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/ Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Chemical giant, climate skeptics vie for seats on EPA science panel

The Science Advisory Board could influence the Trump administration's plans to revisit a host of regulations.
Cutting board adorned with fresh vegetables and fruit

Nutritionist Marion Nestle weighs in on 'What to Eat Now'

Marion Nestle says we need to rethink how we eat. She recommends "real food, processed as little as possible, with a big emphasis on plants." Her new book is What to Eat Now.
A bobblehead of President Donald Trump on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives
Credit: Gage Skidmore/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/5427075... https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

With Trump absent from COP30 talks, the world moves on without U.S.

As scientists sound the alarm, the world is committing to climate action “with or without the United States.”
An illustration of the globe with a giant band aid on it

Podcast: Will we artificially cool the planet?

Professor Ted Parson talks about solar geoengineering as a potential response to severe climate risks, exploring why humanity may need to consider deliberately cooling Earth by spraying reflective particles in the upper atmosphere.

Statsminister Jonas Gahr: Speaker at COP30
Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/statsministerenskontor/ Creative Commons Foto: Martin Lerberg Fossum https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber all COP30 delegations except Brazil, report says

One in every 25 participants at 2025 UN climate summit is a fossil fuel lobbyist, according to Kick Big Polluters Out
Ursula von der Leyen as the first female President of the European Commission during EPP Congress in Zagreb
Credit: : palinchak/BigStock Photo ID: 337032124

European Parliament backs diluted 2040 climate targets

Lawmakers approved proposals to slightly weaken EU carbon emissions targets for 2040. Another vote on corporate supply chain standards was even more contentious as it required populist support to pass.
Old Whitaker oil pumping rig - abandoned oil well
Credit: Photo by Roger Starnes Sr on Unsplash

Opponents say bill bolstering Ohio's orphan well program is too generous to the oil and gas industry

An Ohio Senate measure updating the state’s orphan well program is getting pushback from environmentalists, counties, and farmers.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.