Fake news conference highlights climate-change disconnect

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has vocally opposed the climate-change legislation that's now making its way through Congress.

The continued denial recently prompted Apple, Exelon, and PG&E to jump ship from the business lobby that claims to represent more than 3 million companies. But for a few minutes yesterday, it appeared that the chamber had given into pressure and reversed its opinion.

It turns out that professional pranksters The Yes Men held a news conference to announce the reversal, posing as officials from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (see the video). The hoax was apparently so believable that at least one news organization published a story with the claims.

The incident clearly ruffled feathers at the chamber, which was quick to call for law enforcement to investigate.

But an unintended consequence of the prank could be that the chamber digs in in heels and puts more pressure on lawmakers to reject cap-and-trade proposals and other climate change legislation that it fears could inhibit the growth of businesses.

A successful U.S. policy on climate change would boost chances for progress at the COP 15 meeting in December. That conference could establish a global framework for reducing emissions.

Ironically, the chamber has said it opposes the current U.S. legislation because it doesn't require other countries to act.