The CEO of business lobbying giant, the US Chamber of Commerce, has delivered a surprise speech calling for bipartisan action on a number of issues – including climate change.

In a clear departure from its traditional
pro-Republican stance, the Chamber’s CEO Tom Donahue urged all political sides
to come together to push through 35 bipartisan bills that
“can help address climate change” and warned “inaction is not an option”.

During his speech, delivered last week, at the
group’s annual State of American Business event, Donahue said the business
industry was at a crossroads - economically, politically, and globally.

“The debates and the decisions
confronting the American business community this year have far-reaching
consequences,” he said.

If conventional wisdom holds, said Donahue, “during
this election year it will be difficult to make strides on just about anything
else, such as the reforms to our immigration system to ensure businesses have
the workers they need; or the 35 bipartisan bills that can help address climate
change through innovation and investment”.  

“Does it sound like we can afford to
take the year off? Of course not. Inaction is not an option,” Donahue stated.

Donahue’s comments raised many an
eyebrow given the group’s strong alliance with the Republican party.

Politically, the
Chamber, recognised as the world’s
largest business organisation and Washington’s biggest lobbying group with around 3 million members, has
often supported GOP policies including tax cuts, limiting regulations around climate change and fighting equal pay
policies.

During the 2017-2018
election cycle, the Chamber spent $6 million in outside expenditures supporting
Republican candidates and $1 million to defeat Democrats, while less than
$500,000 was spent to defeat Republicans, according to data from the Center for
Responsive Politics.

However, the lobbying
giant has started to distance itself from the GOP after clashing with the US
President on a number of business issues – most notably Trump’s handling of the
US-China trade war.

Last
year, the group said it would revise its criteria for rating and endorsing
lawmakers, and rely more on bipartisanship to help
advance pro-business policies and encourage members to reach the compromises
necessary for effective governing.

Ironically, Donahue’s
call for climate change action comes after a Wall Street Journal investigation
last year found the CEO had racked up thousands of miles on corporate jets provided by the trade group, for
both professional and personal trips. The trips cost between
$615,000 and $850,000, according to the WSJ.

Following the
revelations, Donahue announced he would step down as CEO of the Chamber in 2022
after nearly 25 years at the helm, handing over the presidency to his top aide, Suzanne Clarke.