Public Relations Battle Begins Over US Climate Policy

摘要

Congress may be in recess, but the debate over US climate policy has not died down. The oil industry and other business groups opposed to the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade emissions bill are squaring off against environmental groups and other proponents of the legislation in a public relations battle that is intensifying by the day. The debate has turned nasty with the oil industry accused of "astroturfing" — manufacturing rallies attended by its own employees to create the appearance of a grassroots campaign. Greenpeace has released an internal memo from the American Petroleum Institute (API), the industry's top lobby group, asking members to send employees to "Energy Citizen" rallies targeting US Senators in 21 states.