COP28
COP28 has officially solidified its status as the largest-ever UN climate summit, boasting an impressive attendance of 80,000 participants. This marks a significant departure from previous years as, for the first time, attendees are required to disclose their affiliations, shedding light on potential conflicts of interest and facilitating the identification of lobbyists.
The comprehensive list comprises 104,000 individuals, encompassing technical and security personnel granted access to the “blue zone,” dedicated to the core climate negotiations and state and organizational pavilions.
This substantial gathering far surpasses the previous attendance record set at COP27 in Egypt, which had 49,000 accredited participants, where oil and gas lobbyists notably outnumbered national delegations. Notably, this year’s summit sees a significant government representation with nearly 23,500 official delegates. Accompanying them are 27,208 policy experts, academics, and senior executives from major oil corporations, raising concerns about the potential influence of big businesses on the negotiations.
The list of attendees is diverse, featuring notable figures such as Bill Gates and Antoine Arnault, son of LVMH magnate Bernard Arnault, the second richest individual globally according to Forbes. Moreover, the accreditations include over 14,000 non-governmental organizations, spanning environmental advocacy groups to industry lobbyists.
Despite the emphasis on transparency, questions linger about the extent of big business influence on the talks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously urged fossil fuel companies to refrain from “influence peddling” that impedes climate progress.
Additionally, organizers report a staggering 400,000 registrations for day passes to the expansive “green zone” surrounding the talks at the Dubai Expo 2020 site, transformed into a vast fair spotlighting both business and environmental innovation.
