What is the significance of the increase in the number of oil and gas industry lobbyists attending the ongoing COP27?

At the Cop27 climate summit, there are more fossil fuel lobbyists than any single frontline group touched by the climate issue, with a figure that is up more than 25% from last year.

Significance:

• Fossil fuel lobbyists have more sway than frontline nations and people. Representatives of business interests dwarf those from other nations and indigenous groups.
• The sheer number of the delegations and perceptions that lobbyists attend the negotiations to impede progress rather than discuss restricting their own businesses might overshadow the advantages of bringing private groups to the bargaining table. 
• The growing influence of lobbyists for fossil fuels runs the risk of impeding talks at a crucial juncture. 
• As long as polluting interests have unrestricted access to decision-making procedures and are permitted to exert undue influence and undermine the crucial work of the UNFCCC, it is argued that climate action will continue to fall short of effectively addressing the climate problem.

Way forward:

The world is at a critical juncture, where it can either address climate change or can take the problem ahead till point of no return. The developing nations must pressurize the international community to limit the influence of these lobbyists in the COP27.

Topics: GS-III: Conservation Environmental Pollution Degradation • GS-III: Environmental Impact Assessment