COP26: Fossil fuel industry swarms climate summit with lobbyists

Glasgow, UK - If the fossil fuel industry were a country, it would have the single largest delegation of any nation attending the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

A protester on November 4 in Glasgow points out that the richest countries pollute the most, but poor countries suffer the consequences.
A protester on November 4 in Glasgow points out that the richest countries pollute the most, but poor countries suffer the consequences.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press

Fossil fuel companies are actively turning a huge profit for selling the very products that keep the temperature rising have a vested interest in fighting the fight against climate change.

And that right there is the glaring conflict of interest at COP26.

This year, 503 participants allowed into COP26 are from the fossil fuel industry, making the fossil fuel lobby two times as large as the biggest delegation from the UK.

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A Global Witness analysis of COP26 delegates showed that the most massive lobby presence is from 100 fossil fuel companies and 30 fossil fuel trade organizations.

The analysis points out the mismatch in representation for the countries "worst affected by climate change in the last two decades:" the combined delegations of Puerto Rico, Myanmar, Haiti, Philippines, Mozambique, Bahamas, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are outnumbered by the fossil fuel lobby.

Thanks to sponsorship from 27 countries, including Canada, Russia, and Brazil, some fossil fuel lobbyists are even part of national delegations.

The attendance of fossil fuel industry representatives has been criticized by many countries for years, and those countries have repeatedly asked for new rules to end fossil fuel lobbying at official UN climate conferences.

The fossil fuel industry isn't alone, and there is also a conflict of interest for lobby groups from the agribusiness, transport, and finance sectors at COP26. This probably isn't what organizers were boasting about when they called this year's summit "the most inclusive" ever.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press

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