Fossil fuel lobby to use Covid-19 to push for weaker climate laws

Australian researchers warn that governments and powerful business lobby groups may use the Covid-19 crisis as an opportunity to water down environmental controls, with the fossil fuel industry most likely to take advantage.

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In findings published in the journal Regulation and Governance, economists from the Australian National University found that studies of the behaviour of corporations and governments during previous economic crises show they were able to predict how the government responses to Covid-19 may be influenced by vested interests.

The researchers from the ANU’s Energy Change Institute and the School of Regulation and Global Governance warn that the power of large incumbent industries, like that of the fossil fuel lobby, could use their power to convince governments than an economic crisis could justify the relaxation of climate change and environmental regulations..

Read the story from RenewEconomy by Sophie Vorrath - “Fossil fuel lobby to use Covid-19 to push for weaker climate laws.”