Oil industry presence surges at UN plastic talks: NGOs\’ influence skyrockets
Global Plastic Treaties Clash With Industry Lobbyists
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5.2) is underway at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, drawing delegates from 180 nations. The meeting aims to forge a legally binding treaty that tackles plastic pollution across the entire life‑cycle—from production to disposal.
Lobbyist Presence Widens
- CIEL reports 234 publicly disclosed fossil‑fuel and chemical lobbyists attending the 10‑day negotiations (until Aug 14).
- By comparison, INC2 (Paris 2022) saw 104 lobbyists; INC3 (Nairobi 2023) had 143; INC4 (Ottawa 2024) registered 196.
- In the last INC5.1 session (Busan, South Korea, Nov 2024), delegates numbered 220, yet the round failed to secure a deal.
Industry Delegates Claim Observation
The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) confirms its 136 delegates represent the petrochemical, plastic, and chemical manufacturing sectors.
- ICCA spokesman Matthew Kastner notes they are “significantly outnumbered by the more than 1,500 NGO participants.”
- Delegates state they are here to listen to governments and propose pragmatic solutions.
NGOs Denounce Covert Influence
CIEL believes many lobbyists operate covertly within country delegations—some hold titles such as “third chemical engineer,” which CIEL’s counts overlook.
Other COP‑struck NGOs, including the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), allege limited seating for observers. They claim the “chairs were flooded by industry lobbyists,” effectively drying out civil society participation.
Greenpeace Protests
At the UN’s entrance, Greenpeace staged a protest, scaling the roof to display banners reading:
- “Big oil polluting inside”
- “Plastics treaty not for sale”
Greenpeace delegation chief Graham Forbes condemns the influx of oil and gas lobbyists, accusing fossil fuel and petrochemical giants of “polluting the negotiations from the inside.” He urges the UN to “kick them out” and stresses that corporate polluters should not hinder the world’s solution to plastic pollution.
