Over 1,700 lobbyists for fossil fuels given access to COP29
fossil fuel lobbyists with 1,773 registered participants are only outnumbered by delegations of three countries — host Azerbaijan (2,229), COP30 host Brazil (1,914), and Turkiye (1,862).
The list of lobbyists include 24 from India as well. Among Indians, mostly (17) came as a delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), three from CII and remaining four representing different NGOs.
The list of Indians also shows the name of a senior functionary, Pravin Dongre (executive director) from public sector oil company, Indian Oil Corporation. The list, accessed by TOI, mentioned him as nominated by an NGO, Griha Council, as its guest. Dongre told TOI that he is here to promote global biofuel alliance. He, however, didn't have a clear answer as to why he was in the list of NGO's guest.
The analysis of the list of participants was done by the Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO), which is a coalition of more than 450 organisations across the globe united in demanding an end to the ability of big polluters to write the rules of climate action. «The fossil fuel lobby's grip on climate negotiations is like a venomous snake coiling around the very future of our planet. We must expose their deceit and take decisive action to remove their influence and make them pay for their infractions towards our planet. It's time to prioritise the voices of those who have been fighting for justice and sustainability, not the interests of polluters,» said KBPO member Nnimmo Bassey from Health of Mother Earth
