Campaign calls for zero fossil fuel lobbyists in COP31 delegations

A climate and environmental editor urges countries to exclude fossil fuel industry representatives from COP31 delegations, citing conflicts of interest and concerns over public trust.

A campaign is calling on countries to include zero fossil fuel industry representatives in their official delegations to the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31.

In a letter addressed to country representatives, Arul Karki, an academic, consultant, climate and environmental editor and researcher, argued that including fossil fuel industry representatives in Party delegations to climate negotiations represents a conflict of interest.

The letter said countries that are Parties to the Paris Agreement collectively recognized the role of fossil fuels as the primary driver of the climate crisis at COP28 by calling on all Parties to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner.

“Negotiations under the Paris Agreement represent the best and most inclusive multilateral forum for addressing the climate crisis,” the letter said.

It argued that fossil fuel industry representatives with official credentials have access to negotiation rooms and coordination meetings as well as key decision-makers, creating opportunities for greenwashing.

“Such unfettered access should only be granted to those actively working to fulfill the Paris Agreement’s goals, not those who stand to profit from the continued burning of fossil fuels,” the letter said.

According to the letter, more than 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists were registered to attend COP30, with many included on Party delegations. It said the lobbyists outnumbered the members of all Party delegations except those of host nation Brazil.

The letter said the presence of large numbers of fossil fuel lobbyists at climate conferences contributes to a negative public image of COPs and has led to an erosion of public trust in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process.

It called on countries to demonstrate global leadership by including zero fossil fuel industry representatives on their official COP31 delegations and encouraging all Parties to do the same.

The letter was signed by Arul Karki, identified as an academic, consultant, climate and environmental editor and researcher.