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Fossil industry outperforms countries in COP26 representatives, report says

More than 100 fossil fuel companies have sent at least 500 lobbyists to climate debates at COP26 in Glasgow – a number that surpasses the total number of representatives from all countries at the summit, says a report by the environmental group Global Witness.

The group analyzed the previous United Nations (UN) list of corporate representatives and found at least 503 people connected to the oil, coal and natural gas industries expected at the conference.

The use of fossil fuels is the main driver of human-led climate change.

The list includes people directly associated with oil companies, such as Shell, Gazprom and BP, as well as members present on behalf of delegations and groups that act on behalf of the fossil fuel industry.

The analysis also showed that the oil industry lobby consisted of two dozen more people than the country with the most conference attendees.

This group also surpassed the total number of people officially listed as indigenous on a scale of two to one, as well as the number of delegates from the eight countries worst hit by climate change in the last two decades – Puerto Rico, Myanmar, Philippines, Mozambique, Bahamas, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“The presence of hundreds of people being paid to push toxic and polluting interests from the fossil fuel industries only increases the skepticism of climate activists, who see these summits as evidence of the delay and hesitancy of global leaders,” said Murray Worthy, leader of gas campaigns at Global Witness.

“The scale of the challenge ahead of us shows that there is no time for us to be torn apart by ‘greenwashing’ or empty corporate promises. It is high time for leaders to show they are serious when they say they will end the influence of the biggest polluters on major political decisions and commit to a future in which the voices of experts and activists are at the center,” he added.

Canada, Russia and Brazil are among the countries that registered members of fossil fuel companies at the climate summit.

“Excluded” COP

The analysis comes amid growing civil society skepticism about the event, which was not as inclusive as promised.

COP26 President Alok Sharma said the need for social distance is why some people, including those listed as observers, were prevented from entering conferences where negotiations took place.

A recent report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) showed that the largest fossil fuel companies are still planning to increase production in the coming years, and will soon be burning more fuel in 2030 than expected to be achieved. the desired climate goals.

UNEP’s analysis combined the plans of the world’s 15 largest economies to estimate that the planet will produce 110% more coal, oil and natural gas by 2030 than the threshold needed to curb global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Production will also be 45% higher than necessary to limit the 2º Celsius rise.

*This is a translated story. Read the original in English

Reference: CNN Brasil

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