18/11/2025
COP30 in Belém, Brazil, is facing fierce criticism after a new analysis revealed a record number of fossil fuel lobbyists attending the UN climate summit, raising serious questions about who is influencing the negotiations.
A flood of fossil fuel influence
According to a report by the Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO) coalition, more than 1,600 lobbyists linked to the oil, gas and coal industries were accredited to COP30. This means that one in every 25 participants is linked to the fossil fuel sector, a ratio that exceeds that of the delegations of all countries except the host country, Brazil.
This figure represents a +12% increase compared to last year’s summit in Baku, according to the same analysis. Over the last five COPs, the KBPO estimates that nearly 7,000 people linked to fossil fuels have participated in the discussions.
An industry deeply rooted in delegations
The presence of fossil fuels extends beyond external observers and professional associations. Major energy companies such as ExxonMobil, BP and TotalEnergies are represented, often through industry groups. Even more alarmingly, some fossil fuel executives are even part of official national delegations. For example, France has 22 delegates linked to the fossil fuel industry, including senior executives from TotalEnergies, and Norway has also included oil and gas industry leaders.
Moreover, according to a new report from the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), 531 lobbyists specialising in carbon capture and storage (CCS) are also attending COP30. Activists warn that CCS, often touted as a climate solution, may in fact increase dependence on fossil fuels.
Calls for reform and accountability
Numerous civil society actors are calling for a roadmap for the phasing out of fossil fuels. Transparency International has published a commitment to integrity for COP30 delegations, calling for the exclusion of fossil fuel industry actors, stronger rules on conflicts of interest and full public disclosure of delegates’ affiliations. Meanwhile, a coalition of 264 civil society organisations has urged COP leaders to put stricter limits on corporate influence.
With such extensive access granted to polluting companies, there are growing concerns that COP30 will be influenced by fossil fuel interests rather than climate ambitions, as these players could well shape global climate policy. The summit risks becoming yet another climate meeting overshadowed by the influence of the very industries that caused the crisis in the first place.
At The Good Lobby, we are committed to not only exposing fossil fuel companies but also the professional networks that amplify their influence. That’s why, earlier this year, we launched the Decarbonising Professional Influence, a project that highlights how public affairs and law firms facilitate lobbying for fossil fuels across Europe. Find out more about the initiative here.