Amidst the critical negotiations at the Cop29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, a surprising group has made its presence known – lobbyists for the controversial carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry. A recent analysis reveals that nearly 500 CCS advocates have been granted access to the talks, a slight increase from last year despite an overall decrease in attendees.
The substantial turnout of CCS proponents, who outnumber the core delegations of major nations like the United States and Canada, has raised eyebrows among activists concerned about the summit’s focus on so-called “false solutions.” Approximately half of the lobbyists gained entry as members of national delegations, with 55 invited directly by the Azerbaijani government as “guests,” enjoying what some describe as “red-carpet treatment.”
Fossil Fuel Industry’s “Greenwashing” Efforts
Critics argue that the heavy CCS presence at Cop29 represents a concerted effort by the fossil fuel industry to delay the inevitable transition away from coal, oil, and gas. By promoting CCS as a primary vehicle for decarbonization, companies could potentially continue selling fossil fuels while claiming to address emissions, thereby preserving their core business model.
“We are witnessing fossil-fuel greenwashing by those attempting to delay the inevitable fossil fuels phase-out,” warns Rachel Kennerley, a campaigner at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). “This large presence of lobbyists is a confirmation that the carbon capture industry is working hard to promote misguided CCS technology.”
– Rachel Kennerley, CIEL campaigner
Activists have long criticized CCS, pointing out its current lack of scalability, inability to address localized harms from fossil fuel extraction, and potential dangers. Despite being touted as a climate solution, CCS has primarily been employed to enhance oil recovery by injecting captured carbon back into depleted wells – a process that ultimately facilitates the extraction of even more fossil fuels.
Debating CCS’s Role in Climate Action
While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has suggested that CCS could play a role in global decarbonization efforts, the group’s leader cautioned last year that overreliance on the technology might lead to surpassing critical climate tipping points. Recent studies have also cast doubt on the economic viability of CCS compared to renewable energy solutions.
“The significant number of CCS lobbyists at Cop29 highlights the fossil fuel industry’s substantial investment in attempting to secure its future, despite the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels,” Kennerley asserts. “Investing in this expensive and unreliable technology will lock in fossil fuels and waste precious time and money that we cannot afford.”
– Rachel Kennerley, CIEL campaigner
Lobbying Efforts and Carbon Market Rules
Concerns have also arisen about the potential influence of CCS lobbyists on carbon market rules, which fall under article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Activists worry that a subsection allowing for carbon credits from emissions reductions and removals could be exploited to increase reliance on CCS. The fear is that lobbyists may be pressuring negotiators to establish rules that boost financing for these controversial technologies.
As the climate crisis intensifies and the window for action narrows, the debate over the role of carbon capture and storage in addressing global emissions is set to remain a contentious issue. With hundreds of CCS advocates now present at the negotiating table, the outcome of this year’s climate summit may well be shaped by the very industry many believe to be at the heart of the problem.
