COP28 Climate Summit Allows Thousands of Fossil Fuel Lobbyists to Attend

Strategic Insights -

The COP28 climate summit, held in the United Arab Emirates, has come under fire for granting access to thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists and executives of multinational oil companies, despite their industry's devastating impact on the climate and human rights. Amnesty International has denounced the move, stating that it undermines the purpose of the summit and allows climate wreckers to influence climate talks. The summit's chair, Sultan Al Jaber, the head of one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, has been criticized for providing a platform for fossil fuel lobbyists to peddle their interests.

Key Takeaways:

  • Amnesty International's Programme Director of Climate, Economic and Social Justice and Corporate Accountability, Marta Schaaf, criticized the COP28 summit for allowing thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists to attend, despite their industry's role in trashing the climate for everyone.
  • The summit's chair, Sultan Al Jaber, has been accused of providing a platform for fossil fuel lobbyists to influence climate talks, despite his own position as the head of one of the world's largest oil and gas companies.
  • ExxonMobil's chief executive, Darren Woods, is among those attending COP28 and presenting unproven technical solutions like carbon capture and storage as an answer to the climate crisis, despite the company's knowledge of the damage caused by burning fossil fuels for decades.
  • The credibility of COP has been damaged by allowing fossil fuel lobbyists to attend, which undermines the rights to freedom of expression and assembly at the meeting.
  • The fossil fuel lobbyists' presence will result in further climate chaos and human rights harms.

Statistics:

  • Thousands of fossil fuel lobbyists were granted access to the COP28 summit.
  • ExxonMobil's chief executive, Darren Woods, is attending COP28.
  • 70% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to fossil fuel combustion.
  • The International Energy Agency estimates that the trillion-dollar oil and gas industry will see a 47% increase in profitability by 2025.

Sources:

  • Amnesty International - "Fossil fuel lobbyists hijack climate talks at COP28"
  • MARTA SCHAFF, Programme Director of Climate, Economic and Social Justice and Corporate Accountability, Amnesty International
  • COP28 United Nations climate summit
  • ExxonMobil