NGOs denounce the oil lobbyists for their large presence in the negotiations

Non-governmental environmental protection organizations denounced yesterday Thursday the disproportionately large presence ensured by the lobbyists of his industry oil in the global negotiations for an agreement against contamination by plasticwhich are being held this week in Ottawa Canada.

With 196 present, it is essentially the largest delegation and its size has increased by 40% compared to the previous round of negotiations, held in Kenya in November 2023, the Center for the Development of International Law on the Environment underlined in a statement ( Center for International Environmental Law, CIEL).

Negotiators from around the world are meeting in Ottawa to forge the first international agreement to effectively deal with the plastic trash that floods nature, from the depths of the oceans to the tops of mountains. The target set in 2022 was to have a finalized text by the end of 2024.

“The presence of lobbyists is progressively increasing as calls for the agreement multiply both inside and outside the negotiations,” the NGO continued.

They are more than the 180 representatives of the European Union and three times more than the coalition of scientists for the effective processing of plastics, CIEL underlined.

“The presence of actors responsible for this crisis at the negotiating tables creates an unbalanced power relationship that prevents progress,” said Rachel Radwani, executive of this NGO.

“The influence and growing presence of fossil fuel industries and petrochemical companies does not meet the world’s wants, nor the climate’s needs,” said Graham Forbes, Greenpeace representative.

Companies are not formally allowed to participate in the talks. But lobbyists can join agency delegations, or national delegations, to take part.

“They’re sitting around with state delegations, while the communities most affected by the plastic pollution crisis are struggling to make their voices heard,” complained Tory Cress, who represents indigenous peoples.

After the negotiations in Ottawa, which are expected to conclude on April 29, the next global meeting of the relevant officials has been set for South Korea at the end of the year.

Source: RES-MPE

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