By Faridat Salifu
Concerns over fossil fuel industry influence have intensified at COP29 as nearly 500 lobbyists advocating for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) technologies secure access to the climate talks.
According to an analysis by the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), at least 480 representatives from organisations promoting CCUS—widely criticised as a tool to extend fossil fuel dependency—are attending the summit.
This figure surpasses the combined official delegations from major nations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Notably, 209 lobbyists are embedded within national delegations, giving them unparalleled access to decision-makers.
The COP29 Presidency also invited 55 CCUS advocates as special guests, raising questions about the neutrality of the negotiation process.
A Lifeline for Fossil Fuels
CCUS technologies, often framed as a climate solution, aim to capture carbon dioxide emissions and either store them underground or use them in industrial processes.
However, critics argue that CCUS is a “greenwashing” tool designed to delay the necessary transition away from coal, oil, and gas.
“CCS has a decades-long history of over-promising and under-delivering, with 78 percent of large-scale projects cancelled or stalled,” said Rachel Kennerley, International Carbon Capture Campaigner at CIEL.
“This large presence of lobbyists confirms the industry’s determination to secure its future at the expense of meaningful climate action,” he observed.
The number of CCUS lobbyists at COP29 has risen slightly compared to the 475 recorded at COP28 in Dubai, despite this year’s smaller overall attendance—52,504 in Baku compared to 81,027 in Dubai.
CIEL and other climate advocacy groups argue that this increased presence reflects fossil fuel companies’ growing investment in shaping climate policy to their advantage.
“Investing in expensive and unreliable technologies like CCS will lock in fossil fuels, wasting valuable time and resources,” Kennerley added, warning, “It’s a dangerous distraction from the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels entirely.”
CIEL’s analysis comes amid broader scrutiny of corporate influence at COP29. The Kick Big Polluters Out Coalition revealed that 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists are attending the talks, amplifying concerns about the integrity of the negotiations.
CIEL Senior Attorney, Erika Lennon, highlighted the need for systemic change.
“Corporate capture, as demonstrated by the sheer volume of fossil fuel lobbyists here, continues to impede progress. It’s time for the UNFCCC and member states to address this clear conflict of interest,” she said.
Lennon emphasised the importance of centering the voices of communities most affected by climate change.
“We need to reform the negotiation process to ensure frontline communities, not polluters, are at the heart of these discussions,” she said.
While the fossil fuel industry promotes CCUS as a viable pathway to emissions reduction, critics warn that it diverts attention from more effective solutions such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.
With CCUS increasingly featured in national climate plans, the debate at COP29 underscores the challenges of balancing industrial interests with the urgency of the climate crisis.
As the world watches the negotiations unfold in Baku, the growing presence of CCUS lobbyists raises critical questions about the future direction of global climate policy and the role of corporate interests in shaping it.