At COP28 climate summit, there's concern oil and gas lobbyists have too much influence
'It's a bit like inviting tobacco companies to a health summit,' activist says
With tens of thousands in Dubai for the climate talks, environmentalists and policy experts are expressing concern over the growing presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at the meetings.
COP28 is viewed by climate scientists and activists as a pivotal conference to cutting global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, after a summer of record-setting heat.
A slew of recent reports has shown a need to quickly transition away from oil and gas toward renewables, or face ever-rising global temperatures.
An analysis from a coalition of advocacy groups found representatives of the fossil fuel industry have been in attendance a total of 7,200 times at the annual United Nations climate talks over the past two decades.
"There is a conflict of interest there," Andréanne Brazeau, a policy analyst with the Montreal-based environmental group Equiterre, said in an interview before heading to Dubai.
"It's a bit like inviting tobacco companies to a health summit."
Last year, Canada had one of the largest delegations from the fossil fuel sector — second only to Russia, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. Eleven representatives from the industry were part of the Canadian delegation.
In all, close to 400 people connected to fossil fuel industries attended the climate conference in 2022, a grouping that was larger than all but two of the national delegations sent by countries, according to AP's data analysis of the more than 24,000 participants.
The same analysis also found there are many environmental activists at the meetings — more than 750 last year, though many said they don't hold the same sway.
"Access does not equal influence," said Caroline Brouillette, executive director for Climate Action Network Canada. Brouillette, who is part of the Canadian delegation in Dubai, pointed out it has been a challenge to simply get countries to acknowledge that fossil fuels need to be phased out.
She sees her role, and those of other civil society groups, as attempting to balance out "corporate interest" and keep negotiations on track so that policies that will lead to a reduction in emissions are achieved.
A preliminary list of attendees for this year's event is expected to be released during the meeting, which runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.
Changes at COP28
COP28 is being overseen by Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of the world's largest oil producers.
Earlier this week, BBC News reported Al Jaber had used the climate meetings with foreign governments to make oil and gas deals. (Al Jabar has strongly denied the report.)
The United Nations added a requirement for COP28 that fossil fuel lobbyists identify themselves as such when registering for the summit, though advocates are skeptical it's enough.
"For something to change radically at COP, it would take a lot more than a disclosure requirement," said Alix Dietzel, a senior lecturer in climate justice at the University of Bristol who has followed the history of the negotiations.
"I think it's more about the structure of how negotiations take place, who can afford to go to COP and how many people they bring and what sway they have at the international level."
Among the Canadian oil and gas sector representatives headed to the summit are a team from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and another contingent from Pathways Alliance, an oilsands group.
"Our presence there is really to signal that we're prepared to be part of the solution," Kendall Dilling, the CEO of Pathways Alliance, said in an interview.
"Obviously, oil and gas [and] fossil fuels generally are a major, major part of global emissions, and you can't tackle this problem without tackling that."
CAPP president Lisa Baiton said in an email the group is going to "contribute to the dialogue" on global decarbonization efforts.
Watered-down language in past meetings
At COP27 last year, Dietzel said she was immediately struck by the presence of oil and gas companies in the exhibition area, where wealthy oil-producing nations and companies host gatherings in glitzy pavilions.
The influence of oil and gas companies in the closed-door meetings can be more difficult to measure, but can result in softening the language of agreements during negotiations over the final text, she said.
As an example, Dietzel cited the 2021 meeting in Glasgow, where initially there was talk to "phase out" coal power and put an end to new coal power plants, as well as fossil fuel subsidies.
In the end, countries agreed to language calling for a "phase-down" of coal power and the commitment to end "inefficient" fossil fuel subsidies.
"Over the course of those two weeks in those negotiations, the fossil fuel lobbyists in the room who are often part of negotiating teams for countries raised objections," she said.
"It really muddled language, where nobody's really committing to anything."
Last year, a proposal by India to phase out all fossil fuels that was supported by the U.S. and many European nations never got on the agenda.
Global fossil fuel subsidies have risen since the Glasgow climate conference from $2 trillion to $7 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund, as governments around the world moved to protect consumers from rising energy prices.
The lobbying begins prior to the meetings themselves, she said, as countries prepare their priorities in the months leading up to the meeting.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made it clear that a "commitment to phase out fossil fuels" must be the goal this year.
After taking the gavel on the first day of climate negotiations, Al Jaber referred to the need for change in the way the world gets its energy. He also talked about the "bold choice" of including oil companies more in climate talks.
"I know there are strong views on the idea of including language on fossil fuels,'' Al Jaber said. "I ask you all to work together. Be flexible. Find common ground. Come forward with solutions and achieve consensus."
'Range of perspectives' in Canadian delegation
The Canadian delegation will again include representatives from the oil and gas industry, but a spokesperson for Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said their participation will be limited.
Canada has no events hosted by oil and gas companies planned at its pavilion, after a presentation last year by Pathways Alliance drew the ire of activists.
Saskatchewan is also hosting a pavilion, at a cost of $765,000, where it will hold panels by industry leaders.
"The Canadian delegation benefits from the broad range of perspectives and expertise that it encompasses, reflective of Canada's many and diverse regional perspectives and interests," Guilbeault's spokesperson Kaitlin Power said in an email.
"I hope that these delegates will make a valuable contribution to the fight against climate change, commensurate with the industry's impact in fuelling the climate crisis."
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With files from The Canadian Press and Associated Press
