“A decline in transparency doesn’t just obscure policymaking — it undermines public trust.”- Sebastiaan Jamaer, InfluenceMap

Sebastiaan Jamaer works as an analyst at InfluenceMap – a platform measuring corporate climate policy engagement. InfluenceMap provides an independent, data-driven assessment of how the world’s largest companies and their industry associations are influencing policy and regulations needed to transition the global economy towards zero emissions.

What does the change you are trying to achieve look like? Why is the EU important?

At InfluenceMap, my role is to assess how companies engage with EU climate policy — and more importantly, whether that engagement aligns with what science demands. 

Our benchmark is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Its findings are the clearest global consensus we have on what must be done to stabilize the climate. We check whether companies support the level of action the IPCC says is necessary, or quietly push in the opposite direction. 

We monitor corporate engagement worldwide and now track more than a thousand companies and 300 industry associations in our database. That gives us one of the broadest views available into how global industry is influencing climate policy. We provide trusted, up-to-date data to help others become more effective. Policymakers, companies, NGOs, and civil society groups rely on our insights to shape their own policymaking and engagement strategies — to ground their advocacy in science-based evidence rather than assumptions or incomplete information. 

The EU is a central arena in this work. As one of the world’s most influential climate regulators, the EU has the power to shape global standards. It also stands out for its transparency: compared to many other regions, the EU provides extensive access to regulatory information. This transparency allows us — and the public — to better understand how policies are being shaped, and by whom. In turn, we can push for an even more open and accountable policy process. 

We follow a wide range of EU climate legislation: the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), CO₂ standards for vehicles, land-use regulations, and more. We track consultations, stakeholder submissions, and corporate lobbying to build a comprehensive picture of how climate policy evolves — and who is influencing it. 

One recent example is our work on the EU Methane Regulation. Ahead of COP30, we developed a global analysis of corporate engagement with methane policy. During this process, we uncovered a major push from industry — particularly the agricultural sector — to promote an alternative metric for measuring methane’s climate impact, known as the GWP*. This metric is not formally accepted by the IPCC, yet it is being used to downplay the true impact of methane emissions. This stands in sharp contrast to the efforts of more progressive businesses and NGOs, which have been calling for more science-aligned methane reductions as part of the EU’s 2025 Vision for Agriculture and Food.

Which challenges are you facing?

The political environment has shifted recently, and with it, the advocacy strategies of companies and industry associations. Some have adapted quickly, recalibrating their messaging to fit the new landscape.

For our work, the fundamentals remain the same. We continue to focus on transparency rules — but what we’re seeing is concerning. For example, meeting minutes between companies and policymakers have become increasingly brief and vague, making it difficult to understand what is actually being discussed behind closed doors.

Transparency has always been a challenge, even in the EU, which has historically been a global frontrunner in this topic. But now, we’re watching that transparency gradually weaken, which is worrying. A decline in transparency doesn’t just obscure policymaking — it undermines public trust.

NGOs are feeling this shift too. Those pushing for ambitious climate policies, in particular, are facing growing obstacles: a tougher political climate, shrinking space for advocacy, and funding being redirected toward other priorities. All of this makes it harder for civil society to play its crucial role in holding policymakers and industry accountable.

One tip you want to share with other public interest advocates?

Stay grounded in data and science.

Whenever you engage with policymakers or stakeholders, start by looking at the science — it strengthens your arguments and helps you build constructive, credible, and impactful engagement.