At Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, nearly 500 lobbyists representing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have been granted access, raising concerns among activists and experts about the summit’s focus. This marks a slight increase from last year, despite a significant drop in total summit participants from 85,000 to 70,000.
These lobbyists outnumber core delegations from nations like the US and Canada, with many enjoying privileged access through host nation invitations. Critics argue that their presence underscores a push to maintain reliance on fossil fuels under the guise of climate solutions.
The Rise of CCS Representation
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) revealed that 480 CCS lobbyists are participating in Cop29, with 55 receiving special invitations from the Azerbaijani government. The technology, while marketed as a pathway to decarbonization, has faced heavy criticism for its limited scalability, questionable effectiveness, and ties to enhanced oil recovery—a process used to extract more fossil fuels.
Many CCS lobbyists are also linked to the broader fossil fuel industry, which has 1,773 representatives at the summit. These dual affiliations have fueled accusations of greenwashing and delaying the transition to renewable energy.
Why Is CCS Controversial?
Carbon capture and storage involves trapping CO2 emissions from sources like power plants and storing them underground. While it features prominently in the national climate plans of countries such as the UK and UAE, its critics highlight several concerns:
- Limited Viability: CCS has not yet been deployed at scale and has a history of underperforming in pilot projects.
- Economic Hurdles: Studies show it is often less cost-effective than renewable energy solutions.
- Fossil Fuel Dependence: Most CCS projects currently serve enhanced oil recovery, reinforcing the extraction of fossil fuels rather than curbing emissions.
Rachel Kennerley, a campaigner at CIEL, called the technology “misguided,” arguing that it diverts resources from proven renewable energy alternatives.
Supporters’ Defense of CCS
Proponents argue that CCS is a crucial tool in the fight against climate change. Olivia Powis, CEO of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association, emphasized its potential role in reducing industrial emissions and achieving net-zero goals. “To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, it is essential that we utilize all available technologies,” she said.
Supporters also note its applicatioCop29: Carbon Capture Lobbyists Dominate Climate Summit Amid Growing Controversyn in decarbonizing sectors like cement and chemicals, which are challenging to transition to renewables.
Activist Concerns at Cop29
Critics at the summit worry that the increasing influence of CCS lobbyists could skew negotiations and embed the technology into international climate policies. A subsection of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which governs carbon markets, may allow carbon credits from CCS projects. Campaigners warn this could lock in reliance on fossil fuels and siphon funds from renewable energy development.
Additionally, fossil fuel industry documents, unearthed during a 2021 US congressional investigation, revealed that oil companies have long viewed CCS as a strategic lifeline to extend fossil fuel use rather than as a genuine climate solution.
What’s Next for Global Climate Policy?
Negotiators at Cop29 face mounting pressure to balance technological innovation with the urgent need for a fossil fuel phase-out. The prominence of CCS lobbyists raises questions about the summit’s focus and whether it will prioritize proven renewable solutions over experimental technologies.
As discussions continue, activists and policymakers must grapple with the role of CCS in a sustainable future. Can this controversial technology play a meaningful role in climate action, or is it a distraction from the real solution: transitioning away from fossil fuels altogether?
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