Lobbyists and Fossil Fuel Interests Dominate COP26 Delegation

Strategic Insights -

Representatives from top oil and gas companies, including Shell, BP, and Chevron, have dispatched 1,000 staff members to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. Among the attendees are climate sceptic groups, pesticide producers, and tobacco firms, sparking criticism from environmental organizations. The event, which ends on Friday, has attracted 39,000 participants, with 233 linked to fossil fuels and 141 from nuclear power.

Key Takeaways:

  • A total of 1,000 staff members from top oil and gas companies, including Shell, BP, and Chevron, have been sent to COP26.
  • Climate sceptic groups, including one led by Myron Ebell, a former aide to ex-US President Donald Trump, have dispatched 11 representatives.
  • Representatives from multinational corporations such as McDonald's, Walmart, Bayer, HSBC, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Microsoft are also in attendance.
  • Friends of the Earth's Dr. Richard Dixon has criticized the list of lobbyists, stating that "the last people you want at COP are big oil firms who profit from fuelling climate change."
  • The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers suggests that attending COP26 as observers is crucial for energy industry actors to "hear first-hand from decision-makers who set the ambition that they expect us to deliver."
  • The World Nuclear Association WNA asserts that its team represents a sector that must build new capacity "on a much larger scale if we are to reach net-zero."

Statistics:

  • A total of 39,000 people are registered to attend COP26 (UN, 2021).
  • 233 delegates are linked to fossil fuels, including representatives from Russia, Kuwait, and Japan (UN, 2021).
  • 141 registered delegates are from the nuclear power sector, including the UK's Nuclear Industry Association and the World Nuclear Association WNA (UN, 2021).
  • 1,000 staff members from top oil and gas companies have been dispatched to COP26 (The Ferret, 2021).

Sources:

  • UN (2021). "1,616-page list of 39,000 people signed up to attend COP26"
  • The Ferret (2021). "Documents uncover multinationals and climate sceptic groups represented at COP26"
  • International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (2021). Unspecified statement
  • World Nuclear Association WNA (2021). Unspecified statement
  • Friends of the Earth (2021). Statement by Dr. Richard Dixon