New research has exposed an unprecedented level of access granted to fossil fuel industry representatives at United Nations climate negotiations, raising serious questions about corporate influence on global environmental policy.
Unprecedented Industry Access
According to exclusive findings shared with the Guardian, more than 5,350 fossil fuel lobbyists were permitted to attend UN climate summits between 2021 and 2024. This period coincided with record-breaking extreme weather events, inadequate climate action and significant expansion of oil and gas operations worldwide.
The research conducted by Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO), a coalition of 450 organisations, reveals these lobbyists represented at least 859 fossil fuel organisations, including trade groups, foundations and 180 oil, gas and coal companies involved in every stage of the supply chain.
Analysis shows that just 90 of the fossil fuel corporations sending representatives to climate talks between 2021 and 2024 accounted for more than half (57%) of all oil and gas produced last year. These companies were responsible for producing 33,699 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2024 – enough to cover the entire land area of Spain with a 1cm layer of oil.
Expansion Plans and Climate Consequences
The same 90 firms also account for nearly two-thirds (63%) of all short-term upstream fossil fuel expansion projects currently preparing for exploration and production. If these projects proceed, they would generate enough oil to coat the combined landmass of seven European countries – France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway – with that same 1cm oil blanket.
These revelations emerge as scientific evidence mounts that the world has failed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, the key target set in the Paris Agreement.
Adilson Vieira, spokesperson for the Amazonian Work Group, stated: "This information clearly exposes corporate capture of the global climate process. The space that should be about science and the people has been transformed into a large carbon business hall."
Indigenous Communities Speak Out
Brenna Yellowthunder, lead coordinator for the Indigenous Environmental Network, highlighted the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities: "Not only are Indigenous peoples on the frontlines of their extractive sites suffering human rights violations, but we also face the brunt of climate chaos on our lands with worsening floods, wildfires, and extreme heat waves."
The research analysed fossil fuel lobbyist attendance at four consecutive climate summits: Cop26 in Glasgow, Cop27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Cop28 in Dubai and Cop29 in Baku. Until recently, the UNFCCC did not systematically collate information about lobbyists.
Last year's summit in Azerbaijan saw 1,773 registered fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance – 70% more than the total number of delegates from the ten most climate-vulnerable nations combined.
The true scale of industry influence is likely even greater, as the data excludes executives on official country delegations and those attending as government guests.
Major Corporations and Profits
Among the most prominent attendees were representatives from the world's largest oil companies. Between 2021 and 2024, Shell sent 37 lobbyists, BP sent 36, ExxonMobil sent 32 and Chevron sent 20. During this five-year period, these four oil majors generated combined profits exceeding $420 billion.
The situation has prompted renewed calls for fossil fuel companies to be banned from climate negotiations. Mohammed Usrof, executive director of the Palestinian Institute for Climate Strategy, commented: "The new rules are a welcome start, but they come decades too late. Transparency without exclusion is performative. You cannot claim to fix a process already captured by the very corporations burning the planet."
As Cop30 opens in Belem, Brazil, campaigners are demanding the UNFCCC move from disclosure to disqualification of fossil fuel interests, arguing that without fundamental reform, the climate negotiation process risks becoming irrelevant in the face of planetary emergency.
