State Leaders' Climate Investments Tainted by Fossil Fuel Industry Stakes

Republican state leaders in the US who have been targeting ESG investing have been found to have personal investments in the fossil fuel industry, according to state financial disclosure reports reviewed by CNBC. Some of these officials have also received campaign donations from fossil fuel companies or their executives. This raises concerns about conflicts of interest as these officials use their positions to defend the fossil fuel industry or move their state's dollars away from clean-energy investments. The lack of state laws requiring regular stock disclosures makes it difficult for the public to monitor what personal stake their representatives could have in the actions they take in office.