No more dirty COPs – NGOs want fossil fuel lobbies excluded from climate talks

Published by

A report from InfluenceMap that exposes Big Oil’s true intentions in climate policy has led to new calls for representatives of fossil fuel companies to be excluded from the upcoming talks on climate change in Paris.

The talks, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP21) traditionally have large inputs from industry, NGOs and “civil society”, unlike other international negotiations.

A campaign called Kick Big Polluters Out is being launched during the final week of the UNCCC negotiations ahead of Paris.

“Around the globe people are calling for action now. We don’t have time to waste; governments must act now,” said Jesse Bragg of Corporate Accountability International, “There are too many lives at risk today to leave tomorrow up to the climate offenders that are driving the problem.”

Shuttershock
Shuttershock

Interference from the fossil fuel industry is proving an obstacle at almost every level, from direct sponsorship of the UNFCCC talks, to the release of a pro-oil report by an alliance between some of the world’s largest oil and gas producers. The report advocates industry friendly “market-placed” solutions.

Industry involvement in policy making is not only allowed, but encouraged. Shell & BHP announced a few weeks ago a partnership with McKinsey Consulting  to “advise” governments on climate policy. These are similar tactics deployed by Big Tobacco as it attempted to position itself on the side of health and reason, whilst simultaneously staving off any action on Tobacco.

The InfluenceMap report compares Big Oil’s PR to the often contradictory lobbying and advocacy done on its behalf by its many front groups. Activists say it also confirms what many have known for some time: Big Oil has no intentions to walk the talk on climate change.

An Opinion Piece Big Oil, Big Tobacco, Big Lies, by Kelle Louaillier, President of Corporate Accountability International and Bill McKibben, the co-founder of the global movement 350.org, outline the rationale for this approach. The Paris talks begin late next month.

 

Sam is Chief Operating Officer for Renew Economy and EV Media. Sam has been working with Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid since 2014 and with The Driven since its inception in 2017. Sam is an occasional contributor to both websites with particular interest in electric vehicles and social policy.

Sam Parkinson

Sam is Chief Operating Officer for Renew Economy and EV Media. Sam has been working with Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid since 2014 and with The Driven since its inception in 2017. Sam is an occasional contributor to both websites with particular interest in electric vehicles and social policy.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

S-curve modelling says renewables can kick coal out of Australia by 2032. But is this soon enough?

In the race to renewables, the big question is whether "faster than we thought" is…

14 August 2026

“It’s a commercial system. And it has a customer:” Sodium-ion battery sale hailed as a first for Australia

The sale of a 100 kilowatt and 200 kilowatt-hour sodium-ion battery system is being claimed…

14 August 2026

Energy Insiders Podcast: Will the green bank save the Tomago deal?

CEFC boss Ian Learmonth explains why big wind projects may finally get delivered this year.…

14 August 2026

Balcony solar or building integrated PV? The emerging options for apartment dwellers and owners

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry on apartment energy issues has recently reported and identified several issues…

14 August 2026

CEFC boss says funding deals for new wind and solar farms to power giant smelter still to be sorted

Head of green bank says Tomago green transition deal likely to get big wind projects…

14 August 2026

New big battery next to gas generator completes last hold point as storage takes more market share

Big battery built next to a gas generator it may often displace has been completed…

14 August 2026