The COP27 talks in Egypt have been billed as a possibility for nations to “showcase unity” in opposition to the existential risk of local weather change, however an evaluation launched Thursday reveals there are extra fossil gasoline lobbyists attending the convention than representatives of the ten nations most affected by the disaster, heightening considerations that trade affect will water down any agreements reached on the occasion.
A data analysis of the United Nations’ provisional attendance listing for the carefully watched convention reveals that 636 fossil gasoline lobbyists have been registered on the talks, up 25% from final 12 months’s COP26 convention in Glasgow.
In response to Company Accountability, Company Europe Observatory, and World Witness — the teams that conducted the analysis — there are extra fossil gasoline lobbyists registered at COP27 than any single nationwide delegation apart from the United Arab Emirates.
Whereas officers from the convention’s host nation of Egypt have characterized the talks as “the African COP,” pledging to middle the creating world in negotiations over local weather options, fossil gasoline lobbyists outnumber any nationwide delegation from Africa, the place oil and fuel giants are aggressively pursuing new fossil gasoline growth whilst climate-driven excessive climate ravages the continent.
Moreover, the brand new evaluation reveals there are extra fossil gasoline lobbyists at COP27 than officers from Puerto Rico, Myanmar, Haiti, the Philippines, Mozambique, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, and Nepal, which the GermanWatch World Local weather Threat Index deems the ten nations most impacted by the worsening international local weather emergency.
“With time operating out to avert local weather catastrophe, main talks like COP27 completely should advance concrete motion to cease the poisonous practices of the fossil gasoline trade that’s inflicting extra injury to the local weather than every other trade,” stated a spokesperson for the three watchdog organizations. “The extraordinary presence of this trade’s lobbyists at these talks is subsequently a twisted joke on the expense of each individuals and planet.”
A list printed by Company Accountability, Company Europe Observatory, and World Witness reveals that firms and commerce teams attending COP27 embody the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — a strong lobbying group that has been dubbed the “chamber of carbon” — in addition to Exxon, Chevron, and different main oil and fuel corporations.
The U.S.-based public relations agency that the Egyptian authorities hired to run communications for COP27 has shut ties to the fossil gasoline trade, with a consumer listing that features Exxon.
🔴BREAKING
Over 600 #FossilFuel lobbyists have been granted entry to the #COP27 local weather talks – that’s 25% greater than final 12 months.
The UN must kick massive polluters out if it’s critical about delivering #ClimateAction. #PeopleNotPolluters https://t.co/buqqv3rq0i pic.twitter.com/42VOk56tZl
— World Witness (@Global_Witness) November 10, 2022
The outsized presence of the trade most accountable for the local weather disaster has outraged local weather campaigners, who’re vocally protesting polluters’ affect on the COP27 talks as they proceed to supply woefully insufficient action plans.
“The local weather disaster is upon us, but world governments proceed to guard the pursuits of some grasping firms as an alternative of the people who find themselves most affected,” said the Kick Polluters Out marketing campaign, which is holding a protest on the bottom in Sharm El-Sheikh on Thursday. “Nowhere is that extra clear than at COP27, the place massive polluters like fossil gasoline lobbyists have as soon as once more converged to greenwash their polluting picture and block the local weather motion we so desperately want.”
Company Accountability, Company Europe Observatory, and World Witness famous that not like fossil gasoline lobbyists, activists from the World South and others harmed disproportionately by the local weather disaster “have successfully been shut out of the talks by excessive prices, visa challenges, and repressive actions by the internet hosting nation.”
“Somewhat than being the beginning of the actual local weather motion wanted, COP27 seems to be set to be a competition of fossil fuels and their polluting buddies, buoyed by current bumper income,” a spokesperson for the coalition stated.
“Tobacco lobbyists wouldn’t be welcome at well being conferences, arms sellers can’t promote their commerce at peace conventions,” the spokesperson added. “These perpetuating the world’s fossil gasoline habit shouldn’t be allowed by the doorways of a local weather convention. It’s time governments bought out of the pockets of polluters, come to their senses, and assist make COP27 the success the world vitally wants it to be.”
