Posted 22nd July 2001

Corporate War

Corporates Declare War On Climate FOE (Friends of the Earth) has counted almost 400 business and industry
lobbyists present in Bonn (there may be others of which we are not aware).

The top sectors are:

Fossil Energy industries - 84 reps including 28 from oil companies

Management Consultants and businesses promoting emissions trading - 72 reps

Automotive industry - 22 reps

Nuclear industry - 21 reps

Aluminium (very energy intensive industry) -20 reps

Insurance and investment - 20 reps

Renewable energy and CHP - 18 reps

Forests and paper industries - 18 reps.

The energy and oil industry lobby is changing its name if not its spots.

There are only 5 people in the Global Climate Coalition delegation, but oil company lobbyists in, for example, the Business Roundtable, International Emissions Trading Association, the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (sic) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The International Chamber of Commerce delegation also includes many energy and nuclear lobbyists. The growth of interest in emissions trading (a key loophole in the Climate treaty) is demonstrated by the fact that management consultants now have far more reps than any other sector apart from energy. Of course, these lobbyists have some interest in the delivery of a ratified protocol, unlike the fossil fuel lobbyists.

Key companies represented in Bonn which have lobbied against Kyoto include:

Exxon 1 rep

Texaco 5 reps

Chevron 3 reps

BNFL 2 reps

General Motors 2 reps

TotalFinaElf 1 rep

Statoil 1 rep....

Others include: Toyota (5), BP (7), Siemens (2), and COGEMA, Daimler Chrysler, Ford, Powergen, Gaz de France, BG, Boeing, Mitsubishi, Yamaha, VW and Audi.

Duncan McLaren of Friends of the Earth comments: "The corporate lobbyists have hit Bonn in force. Of course, some represent industries and sectors with a real interest in and commitment to fighting climate change. But most are the same old fossils from the fossil fuel lobby, here in the hope of performing the death rites of the Kyoto Protocol.

These lobbyists make a fat living by denying the reality of climate change. My question to them would be: do your mothers know what you do for a living? The millions of people all over the world whose jobs, homes and lives are threatened by climate change will be demanding that Governments give the lobbyists out to wreck Kyoto the hostile reception they deserve."..