COP29 chief executives were filmed agreeing to boost fossil fuel trading at the climate change summit.
The recording amplified calls from campaigners to bar the fossil fuel industry and its lobbyists from future police councils.
Campaign group Global Witness posed as a fake oil and gas organization and asked for deals in return for sponsoring the event.
During a conference call, Ernur Soltanov, Azerbaijan’s deputy energy minister and Cop29 chief, agreed, speaking of a future that includes fossil fuels “probably forever.” Law enforcement officials also introduced the fake investor to executives at state oil and gas company Socar to discuss investment opportunities.
“I would like to establish contact between your team and theirs (Sokar) so we can start discussions,” Soltanov told the fake investment group. Shortly after, they received an email from Sokal.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN body that oversees COP, said officials should not use their role to “pursue self-interest” and urged them to act “without self-interest”. That’s what I’m looking forward to.
In the recording, Soltanov told the fake oil and gas group: “There are many joint ventures that could be formed. Socar trades oil and gas all over the world, including in Asia.”
He also described natural gas as a “transitional fuel,” adding: “A certain amount of oil and natural gas will probably be produced forever.” At last year’s Cop28, relevant countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, and the United Nations agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, concluded that the development of new oil and gas fields is incompatible with the climate change goals signed in the Paris Agreement. is made clear.
The Cop29 team also appears willing to waive climate requirements if the company sponsors an event. Sponsors of police events are to commit to reducing emissions and could sign a ‘national pledge’ pledging to develop a ‘credible net-zero transition plan’ at some point over the next two years. It is expected.
However, during the negotiations, these requirements were waived and a new clause was added giving fake investment groups “an opportunity to meet with key local stakeholders in the energy sector at Cop29”.
There was a similar scandal at last year’s Cop28 conference in the UAE, when it was revealed that the chair country was planning to use climate change talks with other countries to promote deals with national oil and gas companies. This was revealed in leaked documents. The meeting was chaired by Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of state oil company Adnoc and the UAE’s special envoy for climate change.
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A Global Witness spokesperson said: “The UNFCCC needs to act urgently to clean up the Cop climate change negotiations, starting with banning fossil fuel industry sponsors and permanently banning lobbyists.” said.
“We’ve had 29 meetings with an ever-growing crowd of polluters and snake oil salesmen. Let’s stop next time.”
The UNFCCC told the BBC, which first reported the story, that “the[UNFCCC]Secretariat sets the same rigorous standards every year, reflecting the importance of impartiality to all its chairs.” Given the spiraling human and economic costs of the global climate crisis in countries, we are very focused on ensuring that Cop29 delivers ambitious and concrete results. ”
The Guardian has contacted the UNFCCC, Socar and Azerbaijan’s Cop29 team for further comment.
Cop29 opens in Baku on Monday.
