Attorney General Steve Marshall Defends Alabama Agriculture from "Radical" Net-Zero Push, Citing Legal Concerns

August 12, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2026, has joined a coalition of 23 states challenging what they describe as a "radical and potentially unlawful" effort to impose net-zero carbon emission standards on American industries-including agriculture.

In a letter led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Marshall and his counterparts are demanding answers from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global climate organization that partners with the United Nations and several environmental nonprofits. SBTi recently released its Financial Institutions Net Zero Standard, which encourages member companies to commit to eliminating carbon emissions across their portfolios.

🌾 Agriculture and Energy in the Crosshairs

Marshall argues that such standards could devastate Alabama's agriculture industry, which relies heavily on energy-intensive processes. "American agriculture stands as the global gold standard for quality and efficiency, feeding not just Americans but countless others around the world," Marshall said. "Ideological assaults, driven by a well-funded climate cabal, have been repeatedly exposed by our coalition of attorneys general."

The letter warns that coordinated efforts among financial institutions to restrict investment in oil, gas, and other carbon-intensive sectors may violate antitrust laws. "It is illegal for companies and organizations to agree to limit output of goods or services," the attorneys general wrote, suggesting that SBTi's framework could be a backdoor to collusive behavior.

⚖️ Legal and Political Implications

Marshall's involvement in the letter aligns with his broader political platform as he prepares for a 2026 U.S. Senate run. Known for his aggressive stance against ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing and climate coalitions like Climate Action 100+ and the Net Zero Insurance Alliance, Marshall has positioned himself as a defender of traditional industries and constitutional limits on corporate coordination.

The coalition is seeking documentation and clarification from SBTi to determine whether its standards amount to unlawful coordination among financial institutions. "We will not stand by as they attempt to undermine American values, sabotage capitalism, and strangle our economic backbone," Marshall added.

📝 States Joining the Effort

In addition to Alabama and Iowa, the letter was signed by attorneys general from Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The move signals a growing resistance among conservative-led states to climate initiatives they view as economically harmful and legally questionable-especially when those initiatives touch core sectors like agriculture, energy, and manufacturing.

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