Norm backsliding in corporate climate governance: The Trump effect on net zero commitments

This project investigates how political pressure, especially under U.S president Trump’s second term, may cause companies to back away from committing to "net zero" carbon emissions. Thousands of companies have voluntarily adopted ambitious climate targets, but little is known whether those commitments are strong enough to survive political pushback. Using advanced text analysis of corporate reports and interviews with company leaders in the U.S. and Europe, the project will explore how and why companies change or stick to their climate goals. The findings will deepen our understanding of how environmental norms spread and offer new insights into corporate climate governance.