Over 160 Climate Denial Representatives Gain Access to COP28

This controversial decision by the UN organizers places these climate denial groups on equal footing with Indigenous communities, human rights groups, and climate justice organizations. It’s alarming that while closed-room negotiations exclude civil society and grassroots groups, representatives with a vested interest in fossil fuel industries are allowed participation.

The data, derived from official UN delegate lists, indicates that at least 166 climate deniers and fossil fuel PR professionals are present at COP28. This number could be higher, as the analysis focused only on the most prominent groups. Some of these organizations have been attending UN climate talks for years, which raises questions about their influence on climate policies.

COP28 is happening at a critical time when the planet has experienced its hottest year on record. Climate scientists urgently warn about the need to phase out fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. The developing countries are already facing an estimated annual loss of over $400 billion due to Climate change, a figure that’s expected to rise.

However, the extent of the oil and gas industry’s influence in Dubai is unprecedented. Over 2,400 industry-affiliated lobbyists are registered at COP28, a number four times greater than the previous year. This overwhelming presence of fossil fuel lobbyists raises concerns about their potential influence on climate negotiations.

Key figures like David Tong of Oil Change International and Ashka Naik of Corporate Accountability have criticized this situation, highlighting the absurdity and embarrassment of allowing these organizations to partake in discussions that should prioritize the planet’s future over profit-making interests.

Comparatively, the World Health Organization prohibits tobacco lobbyists from its summits, yet the UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) lacks a similar policy to prevent bad-faith actors from registering as observers. This gap in policy allows climate action obstructionists like the American Petroleum Institute (API), known for its long history of spreading climate misinformation, to attend COP28 alongside organizations committed to environmental protection.

The presence of climate denial groups and PR firms alongside the massive fossil fuel industry at COP28 raises serious questions about the integrity and effectiveness of the talks in addressing the global climate emergency. This situation underscores the urgent need for transparency and stricter policies to prevent the influence of climate deniers in such critical international discussions.

Wake Up Climate Change Is Real by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content: 

• EU Blasts OPEC for Blocking Crucial Climate Deal at COP28
• Unprecedented Presence of Fossil Fuel Representatives at COP28 Raises Concerns
• Celebrities and Comics Unite for IAR’s COP28 Campaign: Giving Wildlife a Seat at the Table
• Concerns Over Gaza’s Environment at COP28
• Al Gore Criticizes UAE’s Leadership at COP28 and Challenges Oil Companies at Climate Summit

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!