COP29 Faces Criticism Over Fossil Fuel Lobbyist Presence

Nearly 1,800 fossil fuel lobbyists are attending the climate conference in Baku, raising concerns about their influence on negotiations.

A coalition of NGOs, including Kick Big Polluters Out, reports that 1,773 lobbyists linked to fossil fuels are accredited at COP29.
The number of lobbyists surpasses the combined delegations of the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Activists and former leaders, like Al Gore, criticize the heavy presence of fossil fuel interests as unhealthy for climate negotiations.
The conference in Azerbaijan, a nation rich in hydrocarbons, highlights ongoing tensions between climate goals and fossil fuel interests.
New UN rules require participants to disclose their affiliations, aiming to increase transparency about lobbyist involvement.