Oil and gas lobby makes its presence felt more than ever at COP27

More fossil fuel lobbyists had registered for this year’s COP than representatives of the 10 countries most impacted by climate change 

They say fear and self-doubt leads to overcompensation. This held true for oil and gas lobbyists who doubled down on their presence at this year’s COP as calls for this sector to be wiped out permanently continue to grow. The sector still has a firm grip over richer nations, who fought to keep any ambitious language out of any finalised text. In fact, 19 deals were sealed in the run-up to and even during COP27, including ones for new fossil fuel exploration. The United States Council for International Business, in fact, refused to hear any criticism on limiting corporate interest at COP27. The only saving grace here was that there were even more clean energy deals that were signed during the COP. 

In full attendance

According to observers, COP27 was teeming with fossil fuel lobbyists—over 100 more this year than previous years. They were mainly from Russia and the UAE. In fact, more fossil fuel lobbyists had registered for this year’s COP than representatives of the 10 countries most impacted by climate change. 

Language is key

There were no surprises in the story regarding changing the language surrounding oil and gas. Much like other UN climate meets, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran, the world’s biggest oil producers, continued to deny the science linking fossil fuels to climate change. During negotiations on cover text, all three refused to entertain any mention of energy sources. They wanted the text to focus on emissions. There was resistance to any reference to the ‘phasing down’ of fossil fuels and any mention of the 1.5°C target as well. The Saudi climate envoy even went as far as to say that they intend to pump oil “and at the same time reduce emissions.” Russia saying “COP isn’t about energy it’s about climate” only illustrated further oil producers’ reluctance to deny the truth. India’s suggestion of phasing down “all” fossil fuels also did not find any mention in the final cover text. 

“The text makes no mention of phasing out fossil-fuels and scant reference to science and the 1.5 degree target. The Egyptian Presidency has produced a text that clearly protects oil and gas petro-states and the fossil-fuel industries. This trend cannot continue in the United Arab Emirates next year,” said Laurence Tubiana, CEO European Climate Foundation. 

UAE comes full circle 

A display at COP27 promoted a CCS project that pumped gas right back into ​​oilfields to extract more oil. Even President Zayed al-Nahyan said in Egypt that the UAE plans to keep supplying oil and gas “for as long as the world is in need.” This despite the country’s recent net-zero pledge and updated NDC. 

Misinformation abounds

The Africa Energy Chamber grabbed headlines at the COP for peddling fake information such as fossil gas is a “necessary” for prosperity and welfare, especially for Africa. Other oil and gas representatives pushed anti-renewable claims that the clean energy agenda is a form of “neo-colonialism” to control and exploit African nations and inhibit progress and welfare on the continent. The UN Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) even cancelled an initiative to mobilise private energy investments in Africa. Team Energy Africa was scrapped after it was found that the group included the African Energy Chamber, a trade group headed by oil and gas lobbyist NJ Ayuk, who has a criminal record. 

“The text needs to incorporate the voice of Africans who have been calling out the fossil fuel investment that remains well above investments in climate solutions, thereby slowing progress on the delivery of climate justice,” said Wanjira Mathai, vice-president and regional director for Africa, World Resources Institute.

No oil and gas in the final cover decision

Despite calls from various countries, both in the developing and developed world, the language around fossil fuels, in particular oil and gas, remained weak in the final cover decision prepared by the COP27 Presidency and agreed by all parties. While it retains the language used in the Glasgow Pact calling for a “phase down of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”, it does leave the door open for abatement technologies and low-emission energy systems, which can be seen as a euphemism for fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen and gas.

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