In whose interest? Close to 2,500 fossil fuel lobbyists present at COP28 climate talks, reveals analysis
Lobbyists outnumber official indigenous representatives by over seven times, says coalition Kick Big Polluters Out
By Seema Prasad
Published: Wednesday 06 December 2023
A new analysis has presented a conflict of interest at the ongoing 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, United Arab Emirates — there’s a record attendance of fossil fuel lobbyists at the climate summit.
At least 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists were on the list of provisional participants on the UNFCCC website, found climate movement Kick Big Polluters Out’s in-depth study. The coalition of 450 organisations across the globe called on governments to establish a UNFCCC Accountability Framework to protect against undue influence of polluting interests.
Last year, 636 fossil fuel lobbyists were at COP27, up from 503 at COP26.
Read more: Exxon knew: Big Oil’s scientists documented accurate climate predictions since 1970s, 1980s
Despite 2023 being the hottest year on record and communities on the frontline bearing the brunt, the lobbyists received more passes than ten countries most affected by climate change combined (1,509), the study found.
The most climate-vulnerable nations include Somalia (366), Chad (554), Niger (135), Guinea-Bissau (43), Micronesia (26), Tonga (79), Eritrea (7), Sudan (46), Liberia (197), Solomon Islands (56).
Alarmingly, there are more than seven times the number of fossil fuel lobbyists permitted entry to the Dubai talks than official indigenous representatives, the analysis said.
The number of lobbyists was only surpassed by the number of delegates brought by Brazil and the UAE — 3,081 and 4,409 people, respectively.
One key way that representatives of fossil fuel companies gain access to COP is through trade associations, most of which belong to the Global North. Based in Geneva, the International Emissions Trading Association brought the most number of lobbyists (116), including oil and gas companies such as Shell, TotalEnergies and Equinor.
Some of the other trade associations are the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (54), Carbon Capture and Storage Association (28), Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America (27), Carbon Market Institute Limited (23) and BusinessEurope (18).
Read more: ‘50 years of deception’: California sues five Big Oil companies for lying about climate change
Certain countries, too, did not shy away from including fossil fuel giants in their delegation. For instance, TotalEnergies and EDF were brought by France and employees of BP, ENI and ExxonMobil were brought by the European Union.
Condemning this in a statement, Ogunlade Olamide Martins, programme manager of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, said: “To share seats with the Big Polluters in climate change conversations is to dine with the devil. This unholy matrimony will only endorse ‘conflict of interest’ and further facilitate the silence of honest agitation.”
Martins added, “COP’s conclusions must be independent of industries’ parasitic influences and must only address the concerns of the vulnerable masses.”
In August 2022, a joint statement by civil society was drafted and submitted to recommend a framework that sets the rules of engagement for Big Oil companies at UN climate Talks. It suggested the following:
- Setting a definition of what constitutes a ‘conflict of interest’
- Setting protocols that comprise the Accountability Framework, including
i) determining criteria for distinguished types of representatives and non-party stakeholders;
ii) establishing rules of engagement;
iii) guiding handling of potential conflict of interest cases across existing representatives or new applicants. - Establishing conflict-of-interest accountability mechanisms to enforce and monitor the accountability framework.
Read more: Methane: Oil firms downplay greenhouse gas’ emissions, finds DTE analysis
Moreover, the climate pledges of Big Oil companies fall short significantly, according to a 2023 assessment of TotalEnergies, Eni and Equinor’s climate plans by Oil Change International, a research and advocacy organisation.
In 2023, companies Total, Eni and Equinor announced record profits of $36.2 billion, $14 billion and $28.7 billion, respectively. None of the profits were diverted towards developing renewable energy and were used to primarily increase fossil fuel investment.
It demonstrated they were not meeting the bare minimum requirements of the Paris Agreement, therefore, making their presence at COP28 questionable.
Indigenous people play critical role as 'early warning system' on climate change, says Manitoban at COP28
UN climate summit held day of talks on role of Indigenous peoples in the fight against climate change
Indigenous Manitobans attending the United Nations' climate summit in Dubai say it's about time their voices were heard.
The COP28 climate mega-conference held a full day of talks this week on the role of Indigenous peoples from around the world in the fight against climate change.
Several dozen Indigenous representatives from all across Canada were at the summit, talking about how a warming planet is impacting their communities.
Myrle Ballard, an associate professor with University of Manitoba's faculty of science, participated in a panel on loss and damage caused by the changing climate.
Ballard is from Lake St. Martin First Nation, a community devastated by spring flooding in 2011, following the province's decision to intentionally divert water to prevent flooding in Winnipeg. The community was entirely relocated and rebuilt, with evacuees returning home years later.
"It's Indigenous people's observations that are really critical because … they're the predictors of what's happening in real time, what's happening on the land. They're the early warning system," said Ballard, who is also chief advisor for Indigenous science with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
"A lot of the decisions [on climate change] are based on reactions. So we need to be more preventative and learn from Indigenous peoples with their early warning system. That way, we can prepare for the changes that happen."
Ballard said it's important for all different players, including all levels of government, communities and non-governmental organizations, to listen to and learn from each other to find a climate solution.
She hopes Indigenous people are also at the table for those conversations.
"They just dedicated [a day at COP28] to what Indigenous people have to say," she said.
"Having Indigenous people there, I think it's very significant. I would assume and hope that they are being listened to."
'Momentum' to act on climate: Métis Federation
The Red River Métis also sent a group of people to COP28, in partnership with the Canadian delegation. The team is led by JoAnne Remillard, the Manitoba Métis Federation's energy and climate minister.
The federation's housing minister, Will Goodon, has participated in every COP since 2017, except for this one.
He said based on what he's seeing, there seems to be real momentum toward finding a climate solution this time around.
"Sometimes when you go to these things, they are either a lot of talk about things that we should be doing or we could be doing or we might be doing," he said.
But from what he's heard, "there's a couple of other … big issues that there was actually decisions being made early in the week, rather than at the 11th hour."
Goodon said there's "a little more seriousness involved" to proceedings this year, including some important discussions on capping greenhouse gas emissions.
More than 70,000 delegates from all across the world are in Dubai for the summit, which wraps up next week.
Advocates for action on the environment have criticized the choice to hold the summit in one of the world's largest oil producers, and voiced concerns about a rise in the number of fossil fuel lobbyists present.
Goodon said he understands those criticisms, but said the people responsible for the most emissions must also be part of the climate discussion.
"If the … industries that are perpetuating the emissions and the changes that we see aren't at the table, then it's really hard to do, you know, enforcement," he said.
"It's a little bit of a catch-22, and you're walking a fine line.… It's hard to say what's the best way forward."
COP28 is scheduled to continue until Dec. 12.
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