Trump allies pressure Europe to weaken corporate climate rules

A coordinated U.S. campaign led by MAGA-aligned groups and officials is pressuring the European Union to roll back climate and human rights regulations targeting large corporations.

Sam Bright reports for DeSmog.

In short:

• Right-wing U.S. think tanks like the Heartland Institute and the Heritage Foundation have mobilized against the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), viewing it as an attack on American sovereignty and business interests.
• Following lobbying from Trump allies and institutions, the EU scaled back the directive by delaying implementation until 2028 and removing 80% of the firms originally covered.
• European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are now pushing to eliminate the law entirely, citing economic competitiveness and alignment with U.S. policies.

Key quote:

“We have to be careful not to harm the cause by sticking our necks out and becoming a target in the U.S.”

— Anonymous sustainability expert at a financial firm

Why this matters:

The weakening of the EU’s climate due diligence law under pressure from U.S. political operatives highlights how climate denial and deregulation can leap borders. The CSDDD aimed to hold major corporations accountable for environmental and human rights harms throughout their global supply chains — a major step forward in corporate responsibility. But as U.S. institutions like the Heartland Institute escalate attacks on environmental, social, and governance principles, European leaders appear increasingly willing to bend. The coordinated backlash could slow progress on decarbonization and embolden corporations to delay or abandon sustainability goals, further endangering public health and environmental stability in a warming world.

Read more: Trump’s push to sway Europe on fossil fuels clashes with clean energy momentum