Unveiled: Climate-Denying Entities Granted Access to COP28 Raises Concerns
In a startling revelation, influential industry groups with a history of climate denialism and misleading the public have been granted access to the UN climate talks at COP28 in Dubai. Corporate Accountability, a transparency watchdog, identified over 160 representatives associated with climate denial and fossil fuel PR among attendees. This has sparked concerns about their influence on international negotiations, equaling or surpassing that of Indigenous communities, human rights groups, and climate justice organizations. The data underscores the unprecedented scale of oil and gas influence, with over 2,400 industry lobbyists at COP28, raising questions about the integrity of global climate policymaking.
Amidst the urgency to address the climate crisis at COP28, the transparency watchdog, Corporate Accountability, has uncovered a disconcerting reality – entities notorious for climate denial and misleading practices have secured access to the UN climate talks in Dubai. The revelation highlights the presence of influential industry trade groups, think tanks, and PR agencies obstructing climate action, potentially shaping policy decisions.
Scale of Influence: The data, extracted from official UN delegate lists, identifies at least 166 individuals associated with climate denial and fossil fuel PR professionals at COP28. This number likely understates the actual presence, considering the analysis focused on prominent entities. The scale of oil and gas influence is unprecedented, with over 2,400 industry-affiliated lobbyists registered – a fourfold increase from the previous year.
Key Players: Prominent among the climate action obstructionists is the American Petroleum Institute (API), the largest fossil fuel trade group. API, attending as an accredited observer delegation, has a history of impeding climate legislation and fostering climate denial campaigns. The Competitive Enterprise Institute, a US libertarian think tank, and the Edison Electric Institute, a trade group for private electric companies, are also present, raising concerns about the pervasive influence of climate deniers on global policymaking.
PR Agencies' Role: The involvement of PR agencies, such as WPP, FTI Consulting, and Edelman, adds another layer of concern. These agencies, with clients including major oil and gas companies, have been implicated in promoting climate misinformation and obstructing climate legislation. The absence of a conflict of interest policy allowing the exclusion of bad-faith actors raises questions about the integrity of COP28.
Concerns and Criticisms: Climate advocates express dismay at the inclusion of climate-denying entities, emphasizing the need for serious discussions on policies to address the unfolding climate emergency. The extensive presence of fossil fuel industry representatives alongside PR firms raises suspicions about the true intentions behind their participation in COP28.
The situation calls for scrutiny and a reevaluation of the UNFCCC's approach to ensure the credibility of climate negotiations and prevent undue influence from entities with a track record of climate denial and misinformation.
FAQs: Q1: Why is the presence of climate-denying entities at COP28 a cause for concern? A1: The inclusion of entities with a history of climate denial raises questions about the integrity of global climate policymaking and the potential influence on policy decisions.
Q2: How many industry lobbyists are registered at COP28, and why is it significant? A2: Over 2,400 industry-affiliated lobbyists are registered at COP28, indicating an unprecedented scale of oil and gas influence and prompting concerns about the fairness of negotiations.
Q3: Which entities are highlighted for their role in climate denial and misinformation? A3: Entities like the American Petroleum Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Edison Electric Institute, along with PR agencies WPP, FTI Consulting, and Edelman, are among those identified.
Q4: What is the role of PR agencies in the climate talks, and why is it concerning? A4: PR agencies, including WPP, FTI Consulting, and Edelman, are implicated in promoting climate misinformation, raising concerns about their impact on climate negotiations.
Q5: What measures are in place to prevent the influence of bad-faith actors at COP28? A5: The UNFCCC lacks a conflict of interest policy to exclude entities with a history of climate denial, allowing their participation in COP28.
- #COP28, #ClimateDenial, #FossilFuelInfluence, #ClimatePolicy, #UNFCCCIntegrity
