Why COP Fails: Fossil Fuels Lobbies

The largest delegation in COP26 is made up of 503 delegates that represent fossil fuel companies. This stark realization demonstrates an inconvenient truth: our system is so entrenched and in bed with fossil fuel companies that they are allowed to participate in at a convention that exists to fix their mess–it’s a clear indication as to why no negotiation truly speaks about the elephant in the room: keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Scientists have shown that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of the climate crisis. This is the 26th COP, we have known this fact for over 40 years, yet somehow we allow their lobbying to infiltrate imperative negotiations. Fossil fuels must be kept in the ground if we want to have an inhabitable planet.

Campaigners and climate activists are calling for fossil fuel companies to be banned from attending the conference as Tobacco companies and lobbyists were banned from WHO conventions in the 1990s. 

Global Witness gathered data of the delegates attending COP26 and found that some of the participants of national delegations are also affiliated to the fossil fuels industry, 27 of them to be exact, including Canada, Russia, and the US.

The fossil fuel lobby at COP is larger than the combined eight delegations of the countries that have suffered the most under the climate emergency. This statistic is terrifying and only highlights the inefficiency of these empty diplomatic conversations.

The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) is the number one fossil fuel company represented at COP with 103 delegates. They promote carbon offsetting and carbon trading to continue working with fossil fuels through a transitional period to “business as usual”.

Allowing fossil fuel companies a seat at the table should be a clear sign of who politicians are listening to…