Lobbyists from the oil and gas sector came out in force at COP27 and this massive presence at the major climate conference is worrying environmental defenders who are calling for “get the polluters out”.
“636 fossil fuel lobbyists, affiliated with some of the biggest polluting oil and gas giants, have registered for the climate talks at COP27,” according to calculations by Global Witness and others released Thursday.
This represents an increase of more than 25% compared to COP26 which was held in Glasgow a year ago.
These people come on behalf of companies in the sector (BP, Chevron, Shell, etc.) or represent the fossil fuel sector, whose use since the industrial revolution has been the main cause of global warming, within national delegations.
The largest contingent comes from the United Arab Emirates — which will host COP28 next year — followed by Russia.
According to NGOs, the COP has more lobbyists than the total of representatives from ten of the countries most affected by climate change.
A demonstration of a few dozen people gathered at COP27 on Thursday, with a banner asking to “get the polluters out”.
“There are large delegations of representatives from the oil and gas industry, some are even part of national delegations, and there are also governments from northern countries who come to seek oil and gas opportunities in Africa, with large delegations,” said Thuli Makama of Oil Change International.
“African countries are represented by only a few officials from each country. So that already tips the balance against Africa in the conversation,” she lamented.
“Tobacco lobbyists wouldn’t come to a health convention and arms dealers can’t promote their products at a peace conference!” Reacted groups of activists from southern countries, quoted in a press release.
“We don’t apologize”
Wael Aboulmagd, the representative of the Egyptian Presidency of COP27, said it was difficult to know the exact number of lobbyists, who also represent other high-emitting sectors such as cement, fertilizers or steel.
But events on the sidelines of the COP – separate from the negotiations – must, for example, make it possible to show how these companies can improve their practices, he said.
A Western major explained that it had sent less than five delegates to COP27 to take part in public debates on the development of renewable energies or the limitation of methane emissions. But not to lobby for fossils, says this source.
“We do not apologize for being here,” replied Omar Farouk Ibrahim, secretary general of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), in the bays of the conference.
“If we are not at the table, we will be on the menu. So if we are not present here, we will not be heard and decisions contrary to what we believe to be our best interest will be taken”, assumed the Nigerian.
The 2015 Paris agreement which aims to limit global warming to well below +2°C compared to the industrial era, if possible +1.5°C, does not contain the words “coal”, “oil”, “gas”, or even “fossil fuels”.
The first mention of these polluting energies in a decision of some 200 signatory countries at COP26 in Glasgow was hailed as “historic”, even if the final text had been watered down under pressure from India, China and the EU. ‘Saudi Arabia.