The Climate Deregulation Dance: A Familiar Score, Different Conductor
THE ACTORS: Who benefits from deregulation? The primary beneficiaries are, unsurprisingly, fossil fuel corporations and their associated industries. Key figures include CEOs of major oil and gas companies, coal barons, and right-wing political strategists. These actors are not just reacting to policy; they are actively shaping it through well-funded think tanks and lobbying efforts. Records show
that the American Petroleum Institute (API), for example, spent significant sums on lobbying during the 2016-2020 Trump administration, consistently topping lists of lobbying expenditures among industry groups (OpenSecrets, 2020). THE FUNDING: Where does their money come from? The financial bedrock of this deregulatory push originates from two main sources: corporate profits derived from fossil
fuels and opaque networks of dark money. Since Citizens United in 2010, the flow of undisclosed corporate and ultra-wealthy donor money into political campaigns and Super PACs has surged. For instance, the Koch network of conservative and libertarian organizations, heavily invested in fossil fuels, has spent over $1.5 billion on political activities and lobbying in the last decade, primarily
focused on opposing climate action and deregulation (Sourcewatch, 2022). This financial muscle ensures that politicians amenable to their agenda are elected and supported. THE INCENTIVES: What do they gain from this narrative? The core incentive is profit maximization. Environmental regulations, from emissions standards to land use restrictions, represent direct costs to these industries. By