As environmental organizations criticized the fossil fuel industry’s attendance at the UN climate negotiations, oil executives and lobbyists flocked to Baku for “energy day” on Friday. A former UN head claimed that the negotiations were “no longer fit for purpose” as they fought over the main objective of increasing climate spending. Although the industry is “part of the problem,” Patrick Pouyanne, the CEO of France’s TotalEnergies, said that the company is making “continuous progress” on the shift. According to an analysis of accreditations at the annual climate conference, the coalition of non-governmental organizations known as “Kick the Big Polluters Out” (KBPO) estimated that over 1,700 individuals with ties to fossil fuel interests were there.
Oil industry lobbyists face criticism from NGOs
“The fossil fuel industry is causing destruction and causing havoc in people’s lives,” stated environmental activist Makoma Lekalakala of South Africa. The nomination of Sultan Al Jaber, the chairman of the UAE’s National Oil Corporation, to lead last year’s negotiations in Dubai fueled criticism of the long-standing presence of coal, oil, and gas interests at the climate talks. Energy-rich Azerbaijan is hosting this year, and President Ilham Aliyev reiterated his belief that gas and oil are a “gift of God” on Tuesday. It is “absurd to have these petrostates that are so dependent on continuing the sale of oil and gas be the hosts of these events,” former US vice president and climate campaigner Al Gore said. He stated, “It’s hard to miss the fact that they have a direct conflict of interest,” during a Baku interview. ‘No longer suited for purpose’ The COP process was deemed “no longer fit for purpose” on Friday by a group of prominent climate scientists and campaigners, including former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. They called for more frequent, smaller gatherings, stringent requirements for host nations, and regulations to make sure businesses made explicit climate pledges before they could send lobbyists to the discussions.
NGOs slam lobbyists as oil executives take center stage at COP29
The discussions are nevertheless important for vulnerable countries excluded from forums like the G20, according to Michai Robertson, head negotiator on climate change for the Alliance of Small Island States.
“That is the only time that our voice can be heard,”
he stated. According to KBPO, Canada featured oil firms Suncor and Tourmaline in its delegation, Italy brought personnel from energy majors Eni and Enel, while Japan included employees of coal giant Sumitomo. Some of the organizations on the NGO list, such as Danish offshore wind champion Orsted, are employed by businesses unrelated to fossil fuels. A fresh amount for climate financing is the main goal of the discussions to assist poor nations in adapting to climate change and shifting their economies away from fossil fuels. Wealthy countries are hesitant to spend much more than the $100 billion annually currently allocated because they are aware that the home populace is upset about inflation and faltering economies. However, developing nations caution that to satisfy their obligations to achieve net-zero emissions and protect against the effects of climate change, they would require at least $1 trillion. Before ministers come next week, negotiators are having difficulty reaching a consensus on a draft document that can be implemented. According to observers, this meant that the Baku summit, which took place during what is predicted to be the warmest year on record, accomplished almost nothing in terms of addressing the cause of global warming.
The oil industry’s strong presence at COP29 draws NGO criticism
Given Donald Trump’s promise to once more withdraw from the historic Paris deal, the question of how the US will contribute to climate action and finance once he returns to the White House in January looms large over proceedings. Trump will find it difficult to reverse ?climate action currently underway, according to US officials attending the negotiations. At an event on Friday, Jay Inslee, the Democratic governor of Washington State, stated,
“He will be seen as a speed bump on the tremendous growth of this clean energy transition when history is written.”
Experts criticized Sunday’s UN climate-changing talks for failing to strengthen a worldwide commitment to phase out fossil fuels that warm the earth, calling it a “worrying” setback to global warming efforts. During the majority of COP29 in Azerbaijan, over 200 countries engaged in heated negotiations over a difficult financing agreement that was ultimately finalized early on Sunday. However, nations also battled sharply over how to follow through on a historic commitment to “transition away” from fossil fuels made during last year’s climate negotiations.
