169
submitted 6 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Fossil fuel and petrochemical campaigners at Ottawa summit outnumber scientists, EU and Indigenous delegates

The number of fossil fuel and petrochemical industry lobbyists has increased by more than a third at UN talks to agree the first global treaty to cut plastic pollution, analysis shows.

Most plastic is made from fossil fuels via a chemical process known as cracking, and 196 lobbyists from both industries are at the UN talks in Ottawa, Canada, where countries are attempting to come to an agreement to curb plastic production as part of a treaty to cut global plastic waste, according to analysis by the Center for International Environmental Law (Ciel).

The 196 lobbyists registered for the talks represent a 37% increase from the 143 lobbyists registered at the last talks, in Nairobi. This in turn was a 36% increase on the previous year’s number. Increased plastic production is a major part of the fossil fuel industry’s plans for the future, and any attempts to curb production, such as the ones being discussed at the UN talks, are an obvious threat to their profits.

top 16 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 47 points 6 months ago

Why are any lobbyists allowed at UN climate discussion? It should be UN envoys and scientists. That's it.

[-] intrepid@lemmy.ca 13 points 6 months ago

Why is lobbying allowed in any public interest discourse?

That aside, lobbying doesn't mean anti-people by default. Some lobbyists lobby on behalf of the people.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago

This isn't just any discourse. This is about the future of the planet. That shouldn't involve any lobbying, just science.

[-] intrepid@lemmy.ca 8 points 6 months ago

Frankly, I'm in favor of banning them from anything public.

[-] oDDmON@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago

Agreed, because them majority of them speak for money and not for people.

[-] narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

Why are lobbyists allowed anywhere?

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago

Because the UN reps and scientists often lack experience about what's going on in the real world.

Green energy advocates are lobbyists too.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

Do they not live in the real world?

[-] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

Not really. Not all of it. The world is warming. But if you live in an area that still has plenty of water and can afford climate control like the majority of these people you don’t understand it. My neighbors and coworkers think of climate change as an inconvenience or something deniable. By nature of our location and the wealth of our country we’re shielded. They don’t want solar panels on farmland because of aesthetics and they have the privilege to ignore the reality. Folks in Johannesburg don’t have that privilege. The people facing apocalyptic conditions should be able to lobby here.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I'm pretty sure there are enough UN delegates that come from countries hard-hid by climate change that could talk about it on a very personal level.

[-] andrewta@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

If the person reading this is one of those lobbyists. Can you explain what your thinking is. Why would you be in support of this?

[-] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 13 points 6 months ago

Not a lobbyist ... but the reason is money.

[-] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago

It's because of capitalism. Line cannot go down, even if it means making the planet uninhabitable.

[-] intrepid@lemmy.ca 5 points 6 months ago

Not a lobbyist. But I can explain their motivation in one word: Money

[-] dlatch@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

Something along the lines of being an egocentric asshole that doesn't give a fuck about anything but themselves and their bank account, probably.

[-] LotzaSpaghetti@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 months ago

Was walking around for lunch today and they’ve got targeted ads on those trucks with digital displays on the side stating things like “plastic helps us save food” and other weird claims. I did a double take but wasn’t able to get a good photo of it. As it rounded the corner.

Similar vehicles make the rounds during the day targeting parliamentarians with slogans relating to oil and gas. It’s gross to see day-to-day but I wonder truly how much these things actually sway people other than elicit eye rolls (or support from the converted).

this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2024
169 points (99.4% liked)

World News

39004 readers
2622 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS