DUBAI: A record number (2,456) of fossil fuel lobbyists have been granted access to the UN climate summit (CO) and their number is more than all the delegates from the ten most vulnerable countries (1,509), mainly the small island nations, underscoring how industry presence is dwarfing that of those on the frontlines of the crisis, said the Kick Big Polluters Out(KBPO) coalition in its analysis released this week.The Summit presidency, however, said the CO has dedicated spaces and platforms for all voices to be heard as part of its commitment to delivering an inclusive COP.
The coalition – an umbrella body of more than 450 organisations across the globe united in demanding an end to the ability of big polluters to write the rules of climate action – said the 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists are only outnumbered by the 3,081 people brought by Brazil (which is expected to host COP30 in 2025), and the UAE (4,409) which is the host nation of the CO.
The report has come just when the CO president Sultan Al Jaber made attempts to clear the air over his reported remarks that there is no science behind the need to phase out fossil fuels. Emphasising on better outcome at CO, he said that “phasing down and phasing out of fossil fuels” is inevitable to deal with the climate crisis and his presidency is the first ever to actively call on countries to come forward with language on phase out of fossil fuels.
On specific question by TOI on whether fossil fuel lobbyists are swarming the CO, the spokesperson said, “As part of our commitment to delivering an inclusive COP, CO has dedicated spaces and platforms for all voices to be heard across both the Blue (official delegates, observers and media) and Green Zone (NGOs, think tanks, advocacy groups and industries).
The coalition – an umbrella body of more than 450 organisations across the globe united in demanding an end to the ability of big polluters to write the rules of climate action – said the 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists are only outnumbered by the 3,081 people brought by Brazil (which is expected to host COP30 in 2025), and the UAE (4,409) which is the host nation of the CO.
The report has come just when the CO president Sultan Al Jaber made attempts to clear the air over his reported remarks that there is no science behind the need to phase out fossil fuels. Emphasising on better outcome at CO, he said that “phasing down and phasing out of fossil fuels” is inevitable to deal with the climate crisis and his presidency is the first ever to actively call on countries to come forward with language on phase out of fossil fuels.
On specific question by TOI on whether fossil fuel lobbyists are swarming the CO, the spokesperson said, “As part of our commitment to delivering an inclusive COP, CO has dedicated spaces and platforms for all voices to be heard across both the Blue (official delegates, observers and media) and Green Zone (NGOs, think tanks, advocacy groups and industries).