Our playbook guide to deceptive fossil fuel practices: part six

When it comes to the insidious techniques that the industry is using to greenwash its image, undermine climate negotiations, and delay progress, there are many. This time, we’re examining how fossil fuel companies infiltrate climate policy and decision making.

COP28 is almost over.

With this year’s climate negotiations drawing to a close, you may be wondering just how effective and meaningful the whole ordeal has been. Are we any closer to solving the climate crisis? Scientists seem to largely view it all as a big waste of time.

Taking place in the UAE and being led by oil tycoon Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 has faced deserved scrutiny and frequent criticism. Sceptics say that there are significant and obvious conflicts of interest which have derailed and distracted attendees from making any tangible plan of action.

Unfortunately, climate talks being overrun and infiltrated by fossil fuel lobbyists in this way is nothing new.

Much like all the other topics we have covered in this series so far, there is a long history of fossil fuel companies overrepresenting themselves at key talks and events in order to undermine and muddy actual conversation. Whether it’s distractions, bogus alternative ‘solutions’ that will somehow offset continued emissions, or simply denying that pollution is a problem, it’s all been done before. COP28 is just the latest example.

So, let’s take a look at what fossil fuel infiltration really means and how it has been used over the past few decades to curb climate progress.

What do we mean by fossil fuel ‘infiltration’?

First off, it’s probably handy to know what we mean by ‘infiltration’ of climate negotiations.

This is when fossil fuel companies and lobbyists deliberately flood any diplomatic discussions or talks on climate action with representatives. This could be at a government level, during events like COP, or really any event that brings leaders together.

Why do this? Having a vocal majority at any event designed to create legislation or generate international deals will likely skew the outcome in your favour. The more lobbyists that show up representing oil, gas, and coal, the greater likelihood that their interests will be protected.

Plus, oil companies are given the added benefit of looking like they’re authentically interested in climate solutions if they show up to negotiations in droves. It gives the public impression that they’re invested in reducing emissions, while quietly continuing to pump money into gas and oil behind the scenes.

We’ve seen this tactic used to effectively manipulate the details of agreed carbon targets routinely in the past.

The Paris Agreement, for example, was found to be undermined and ‘captured by corporate interest’ in 2017. Similarly, COP28 entertained bizarre, bogus panels on unnecessary subjects which could be viewed as a convenient distraction from meaningful conversation.

Up for a talk about sustainable yachting, anyone? That is a very real panel that took place this year.

COP26 was found to have far more lobbyists representing their corporate interests than all eight countries worst affected by climate change since 2000 combined. With such unbalanced negotiation tables, it’s hard to put faith in any resulting legislation being fair or well-intentioned.

Fossil fuel companies are far more likely to opt for carbon capture ‘solutions’ or vague targets with no enforcement or legal repercussions – which is pretty much the outcome of every COP event. Funny that, isn’t it?