Confirmed: Oil Majors Will Have No Official Status In Glascow; Fringe Events Only For BP et. al.
Fossil fuel firms will have no official role in the Cop26 climate summit, it can be revealed, amid growing concern among UK officials that big oil’s net zero plans do not stack up. Private emails from civil servants in the Cop unit, seen by the Guardian, show doubts about one oil major’s net zero plans, with an official saying BP “[does] not currently fit our success criteria for Cop26” and another noting “it’s unclear whether [its net zero] commitments stack up yet”.
Last year the Guardian revealed that fossil fuel firms had held a series of private meetings with UK officials in an attempt to be part of Cop26. Documents revealed that some of the world’s biggest polluters had been lobbying the government, offering money in return for exposure at the event and in one case saying they could act as an intermediary between UK officials and other governments. But now, in what campaigners say is a big win for climate activism, the UK’s Cop unit has confirmed that no fossil fuel majors will have a formal role.
EDIT
A Cop26 spokesperson said officials from big oil may still attend fringe events but confirmed they would have no formal role. In a statement, they said: “[We] are working most closely with organisations that are committed to taking real, positive action and have strong climate credentials. Companies who have committed to achieving net zero, and have published a plan of action of how they will do this, such as through UN-backed science-based targets.”
Fossil fuel companies have sponsored some events at previous Cop meetings, drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups. Campaigners say the decision to exclude them this time is a sign that the corporations’ “social licence is being withdrawn”. It follows successful campaigns across the arts and higher education to end sponsorship deals and investments.
EDIT
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/21/no-formal-cop26-role-for-big-oil-amid-doubts-over-firms-net-zero-plans
