A “record” number of fossil fuel lobbyists have registered to take part in the last scheduled round of UN talks to agree a new global pact to tackle plastic pollution, according to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
The advocacy group identified 221 representatives of oil and gas and petrochemical companies and industry bodies on the provisional list of participants at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) taking place in Busan, South Korea, this week.
After a fraught two-and-a-half-year negotiating process, 175 countries are expected to agree on a landmark treaty by Sunday aimed at ending plastic pollution. But deep divisions over the core issues being discussed in Busan – including a potential cap on plastic production – have stalled progress, putting the outcome on a knife edge.
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The vast majority of nations support the inclusion of curbs on plastic manufacturing in the pact. But a vocal and powerful group of oil and gas-producing countries – led by Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran – strongly oppose the move, pushing for a narrower focus on managing plastic consumption and waste.
Consensus is the preferred way of making decisions at the UN talks, so resistance from even a small minority can potentially block a deal.
‘Foxes in the henhouse’
Similarly, dozens of fossil fuel firms, plastic producers and lobby groups for the petrochemical industry that are actively involved in the negotiating process back efforts to keep production curbs out of the UN treaty.
ExxonMobil, Dow, BASF and Sabic are some of the companies with the largest number of representatives on the list for INC-5.
Von Hernandez, global coordinator at the Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) movement, said that “allowing fossil fuel and petrochemical companies to exert their influence in these negotiations is like letting foxes guard the henhouse”.
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“We have watched industry lobbyists surrounding the negotiations with sadly well-known tactics of obstruction, distraction, intimidation, and misinformation,” said Delphine Levi Alvares, global petrochemicals campaign manager at CIEL.
A spokesperson for the INC Secretariat told Climate Home that all private sector observers registered for the talks have provided their name, affiliation and home organisation “to aid transparency”.
They said a code of conduct to prevent harassment applies to all UN meetings. Participants are regularly reminded of this code and encouraged to report any issues to the UN Department for Safety and Security or to the INC Secretariat, who will follow-up “immediately”, the spokesperson added.
Déjà vu
Concerns over fossil fuel lobbyists at the plastics talks reflect long-standing criticism over the corporate capture of UN climate negotiations. Almost 1,800 fossil fuel lobbyists were granted access to the COP29 climate summit in Baku this month – more than the government delegates of the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries combined.
While the overall number of fossil fuel lobbyists at the plastics talks is lower than at climate conferences, their weight is much greater. They make up close to 6% of total registered attendees in Busan – nearly double the share of fossil fuel lobbyists on the COP29 participants’ list.
CIEL said it had counted the highest number at INC-5 from among the five rounds of negotiations for the plastics treaty so far. Taken together, fossil fuel and chemical sector lobbyists would form the largest single delegation at the meeting in Busan, significantly outnumbering the host South Korea’s 140 representatives.
A minority are embedded directly within countries’ official contingents. CIEL spotted 17 fossil fuel lobbyists in national delegations at the Busan conference, from China, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Peru.
But the overwhelming majority sign up as part of trade association delegations that have the status of observers at the talks.
Big petchem
Representatives from ExxonMobil, Dow, BASF and Sabic are listed under a number of petrochemical industry groups, including the International Council of Chemical Associations and its regional counterparts in Canada, Australia and Europe.
These companies are pouring more money into their plastics divisions, building new manufacturing plants across the globe and ramping up production capacity. Fossil fuel giants see the plastics market as a promising replacement for power and transport in a clean energy future, as plastics production relies on oil and gas – and is predicted to double or triple by mid-century.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, these corporate giants strongly oppose the inclusion of any manufacturing curbs in the UN plastics treaty.
BASF – which has four participants on the list for Busan – wrote in a position statement that production cuts and “de-listing” of materials or products could “lead to regrettable environmental and socioeconomic consequences”.
And a senior executive at ExxonMobil – which sent five representatives to INC-5 – said ahead of the Busan talks that “it’s been reassuring to hear leaders share their belief that such measures [production curbs] could deprive the world – particularly the developing world – of the untold benefits plastics deliver”.
Similar arguments have also been put forward by diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran in the negotiating rooms in Busan.
Alongside individual companies, the petrochemical industry can also make its voice heard at the talks through sizable delegations from industry associations.
The American Chemistry Council and Plastics Europe have registered seven and four people respectively for the session in Busan. Equivalent organisations from many industrialised countries are also on the list.
Matthew Kastner, director of media relations at the American Chemistry Council, said in a statement responding to the CIEL figures that the International Council of Chemical Associations had confirmed there are 135 delegates representing plastic, petrochemical and chemical manufacturing industries attending INC-5. Neither side was able to explain the discrepancy in the numbers.
“Our delegation is here to listen to governments so we can understand the unique challenges they face and bring solutions that leverage innovations and the deep technical expertise our industries have that can help end plastic pollution,” Kastner added. He also highlighted the significant presence of environmental advocates at the talks.
‘So unjust’
The INC secretariat spokesperson told Climate Home “it is up to each member state or accredited organisation to select and nominate their delegation to INC sessions”.
Civil society groups, meanwhile, are calling for “strong” conflict of interest policies and disclosure of lobbying activities within the process.
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Matt Perryman, a Kaupapa Māori social scientist and researcher, described it as “so unjust” that Indigenous representatives at the talks are “so outnumbered by industry”.
He told reporters that lobbyists also try to exert their influence over Indigenous and scientists’ groups at the talks.
“There are lots of attempts to sway perspectives and make sure we don’t end up with the treaty that we need and that takes corporations to account,” he added.
(Reporting by Matteo Civillini; editing by Megan Rowling)
This article was updated on November 29 to include comments from a spokesperson with the American Chemistry Council.