Nigerian and African activists, under the banner of the Africa Make Big Polluters Pay, MBPP Coalition, have criticized the overwhelming presence of 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists at the ongoing COP29 climate summit in Baku. The coalition argues that such dominance by corporate interests undermines climate justice and marginalizes the voices of communities most affected by the climate crisis.
According to an analysis by the Kick Big Polluters Out, KBPO coalition, the number of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP29 surpasses the delegations of almost every individual country, with only host Azerbaijan (2,229), Brazil (1,914), and Turkey (1,862) sending larger delegations. The figure also dwarfs the combined representation of the 10 most climate-vulnerable nations, which totals just 1,033.
Executive Director of Nigeria-based Corporate Accountability and Public Participation, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, expressed outrage: “The presence of 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists at COP29 is a stark reminder that the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis are being drowned out by corporate interests. This space should be filled with grassroots leaders fighting for their communities, not representatives of industries fueling the crisis.”
Similarly, Executive Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey, described the development as a significant setback for climate justice.
“The fact that those exacerbating the climate crisis are permitted access to these discussions shows a failure to implement robust conflict-of-interest policies. It’s time to expel Big Polluters and make them pay for the damage they’ve caused,” Bassey said.
Africa Climate Campaign Director at Corporate Accountability, Neima Hellen, echoed these sentiments:
“Every lobbyist here represents a barrier to meaningful climate action. Instead of fostering change, they are here to protect profits. Grassroots activists must lead these negotiations.”
The KBPO analysis revealed that many lobbyists were granted access through trade associations, with eight of the top 10 trade groups coming from the Global North. Companies like TotalEnergies, Glencore, and Chevron were among those represented. Meanwhile, nations like Japan, Canada, and the UK brought fossil fuel-linked corporations as part of their delegations.
This influx of industry representatives comes at a time when global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions have reached record highs, and fossil fuel companies have approved over $250 billion in oil and gas projects since COP28. Activists argue this presence contradicts the goals of COP29, which aims to discuss the end of fossil fuels, false solutions, and climate finance.
The Africa MBPP Coalition and KBPO have renewed calls for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC to establish clear conflict-of-interest policies to bar polluters from climate talks. They cite the precedent set by the World Health Organization’s tobacco treaty, which excluded industry representatives from negotiations.
As the climate crisis escalates, activists emphasize the need to prioritize the voices of frontline communities over corporate interests to ensure meaningful progress in global climate negotiations.