What went missing at COP28?

The COP28 was an interesting affair. Lobbyists meandered their way once again to the UN summit in Dubai, naysayers continued to criticize each development, but there were a few positive outcomes as well. All this was in the realm of the set agenda.

However, some key issues—which are part of the collective value chain were missing. So as we sign off COP28 this week, I want to leave you with five key points that were missed in COP28.

1. Soil and Biodiversity loss :

Climate change and biodiversity loss are intertwined. Though COP28 mentioned the interconnection, there is no concrete plan to address the continuing decline in the ecosystem. Protecting, preserving, and nurturing diversity is key to a healthy and climate-resilient planet.

2. Insufficient focus on indigenous communities and climate justice:

Displacement and inequality (human rights) are the two significant impacts of climate. Likewise, though COP28 recognizes the vulnerability of indigenous peoples to climate change, it needs concrete measures to respect and support their traditional knowledge and leadership in adaptation and mitigation efforts. Their inclusion and empowerment are crucial for effective climate action.

3. Corporate/long-term accountability:

Countries, corporations, and communities announced their net-zero targets. However, there needs to be a clear mechanism to ensure their commitments they are credible, implementable, and achievable. Considering there is no major takeaway from the first-ever global stocktake in COP28, Greenwashing is a growing challenge.

4. Lacks targets on fossil fuel phase-out plan:

Phasing down is a practical and logical conclusion to transition away from fossil fuels. However, a clear and ambitious timeline for phasing out fossil fuels is missing in the COP28 final document. This weakens the Paris Agreement’s commitment to the 1.5°C target.

5. A concrete vision:

Am I the only one who felt the COP28 lacked long-term vision and accountability? I believe that the whole focus was on immediate action and measuring progress. This year, COP lacked a medium and long-term vision for achieving climate goals. What is required at this point is ambitious yet realistic targets beyond 2050. This coupled with transparent and robust accountability mechanisms, is crucial for a sustainable future.

As per KBPO, fossil fuel lobbyists attend UN climate talks more than 7000 times to influence climate action. The Kick Big Polluters Out, or KBPO coalition has made a startling revelation days ahead of COP28 in Dubai.

In a new investigative analysis, it has alleged that fossil fuel lobbyists attend UN climate talks more than 7000 times as part of a decades-long campaign to influence climate action.

KBPO highlighted the fossil fuel lobby’s significant role in climate change efforts. It signified the obstructive presence just before COP28, a controversial event largely influenced by its leadership.

The coalition alleged that the findings are just the tip of the iceberg. It has urged the big polluters to quit before the COP28 Dubai talks.

The KBPO analysis:

Delegates from major oil and gas companies and their trade groups have attended UN-led climate talks at least 7200 times over the past 20 years.
Since COP9 (2003), fossil fuel firms disclosed employees had attended negotiations 945 times. Off these, the “Big 5” oil giants gained 267 passes. These include ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP and Total Energies.
Trade associations representing major fossil fuel polluters have attended COPs 6581 times. They allegedly used COP to lobby for fossil fuel interests.
It is mandatory for all COP delegates to be hosted by an official delegation from a government or an approved organization. Many of those are trade associations for fossil fuels. Delegates frequently fail to disclose their affiliation, which may refer to their work for a specific company or the interests they represent. As a result, the presence of fossil fuel companies goes unnoticed. These numbers therefore indicate a large undercount.
For example, Since 2003, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) has been granted 2769 passes to attend climate talks. The trade organization is dominated by major polluters like Exxon, Chevron, and BP
Additionally, lobbyists for fossil fuels have a history of sending delegations to COPs that do not accurately represent their interests. For instance, Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of Total Energies, was part of a German NGO delegation that attended COP27 last year. Bernard Looney, former CEO, BP, was also present at the same event as a member of the Mauritania delegation.

The coalition report in numbers:

It must be noted that KBPO has compiled and analyzed information on COP attendees since COP 9.

With at least 115 passes approved by the UNFCCC, Shell has sent the most disclosed personnel to talks out of all the oil and gas workers that we were able to identify. Shell has boasted in the past about how it had an impact on the outcome of COP21, the conference that gave rise to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. It is reported that the company spends millions of dollars a year on lobbying to undermine climate action.

Unknown delegates of the large Italian company Eni, which is being sued for using greenwashing and lobbying to promote the use of more fossil fuels even though it is aware of the risks, have gone to COPs at least 104 times, BP at least 56 times, Chevron at least 45 times, and Brazil’s Petrobras at least 68 times.

Along with IETA, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (at least 979 passes) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (at least 558 passes) have been among the fossil fuel trade associations most well-represented at COPs. At least 473 delegates from Japan’s business federation, Keidenran, whose members include some of the biggest polluters in the nation, and at least 210 from Business Europe attended the events.

The study showed that all the top 20 trade groups attend Global North offices. Organizations from nations contributing the most to global emissions are controlling climate negotiations. They aim to influence decisions on climate action affecting Global South communities.

Not just fossil fuels:

The fossil fuel industry is not the only group of lobbyists present at COP. Transportation, agribusiness, and finance are a few more polluting industries that are heavily involved in the climate crisis but are not covered in this analysis.

By establishing explicit conflict of interest policies and more comprehensive accountability mechanisms, these new findings expand on calls made in recent years to safeguard the integrity of the UN’s climate negotiations. Last June, the UNFCCC mandated the disclosure of the representatives of participants at the COP, a significant first step toward achieving the goal that civil society had been pushing for years.

This KBPO analysis focuses on the top oil and gas producing companies, historical polluters, and trade associations frequently attending climate talks. The UNFCCC faces challenges in processing names due to its inconsistent attendance list formats and inability to require participants to disclose their affiliations. As a result, while many representatives would not have been found during this investigation, these findings represent only the tip of the iceberg in terms of fossil fuel influence.

70% of the world’s population has called for conflict of interest resolution. Over 130 US and EU legislators joined the call. Christiana Figueres, former UNFCCC head, recently said that the fossil fuel industry “should not be there.” If it is “going to be there, there will be obstructors and only to put spanners into the system.”

Civil society will closely monitor COP28’s focus on a fossil fuel-friendly conference, assessing measures to protect climate action from polluters and broader accountability of talks.

Quotes:

“The UN has no conflict-of-interest rules for COPs,” said George Carew-Jones, from the YOUNGO youth constituency at the UNFCC. “This unbelievable fact has allowed fossil fuel lobbyists to undermine talks for years, weakening the process that we are all relying on to secure our futures.”

Pat Bohland from LIFE e.V./Women and Gender Constituency, “When you have industry’s emission trading attack dog (IETA) sending more lobbyists since 2003 than scores of Global South countries combined, is it any wonder negotiations have wasted time we don’t have prioritizing dangerous distractions and false solutions like carbon markets?”

Pablo Fajardo, Union of Affected Communities by Texaco/Chevron, Ecuador, “In the year 2023, the Amazon suffered the worst drought. Rivers, lakes and lagoons dried up for the first time in history, with them thousands of living beings died. The greatest responsibility for this crisis experienced in the Amazon lies with corporations like Chevron and others, which have destroyed the environment. Time is running out.”

A fortnight away. COP28 will be held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The expectations are already soaring. Reams of print and screen are flush with experts demanding more action, pledges, funding, and green taxes.

However, logical and practical decisions by countries may differ from the promises made at COP28. At least, that is what I believe from past experiences.

Globally, every human being is fighting the ugly impacts of climate change in varied forms. Changing climatic conditions and unpredictable weather patterns are the new norm. Therefore, COP28 gains significance. The expectation from COP28 is to strengthen action plans further to mitigate the climate effect. But the deeds must be practical. Take the instance of India.

Recently, the power minister, RK Singh announced that the country would add 30,000 MW of thermal capacity to meet the surging power demand. The country already has 50,000 MW of coal-based capacity addition underway. It saw a 20% surge in demand annually in August, September, and October. All those coal-based plants running at lower PLF were asked to run at full capacity. This also means the fuel (coal) supply has to be met. Coal India, the state-owned mining company that supplies 80% of the fuel, also has been asked to optimize capacity. The power generators import the rest of the fuel.

The rationale, as the Minister pointed out, is that the country cannot ignore the demand surge and slow down growth because of the non-availability of power. It is a fact that to support the growth rate of a country; the energy sector has to grow at double that rate. For example, if India is growing at 7.5%, the country’s energy sector should grow at 15%.

India has an installed capacity of 4,17,688 MW (as of 31 May 2023). Coal alone constitutes 49.4% of this, and renewable energy, including large hydro, forms just above 41%. Though India has decided to move away from fossil fuels, in all practicality, coal is set to remain a mainstay for the foreseeable future. This is because the country is on the cusp of economic growth that is accelerated by many factors. To give a sneak peek, India is the third-largest power producer in the world. The per capita electricity consumption is still below 1500 units, which is way lower than in developed countries. It indicates that power demand will continue to surge going forward.

India has set its target to be net zero by 2070. An efficient and well-thought-out goal, as it is a coal-rich country, and considering the economic capacity, coal will continue to dominate power generation. It successfully added 1,25,692 MW of grid-connected wind and solar, which is an achievement. The country plans to increase the percentage of renewable energy to 50% by 2030. With all capacity additions planned in renewables and the pace at which it is progressing, I believe the Minister when he says that ‘we remain committed to our mitigation targets.’

India may not be the lone example. Take the case of Britain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pushed the deadline to sell petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035. According to the latest reports, countries are way off their emission targets globally. By 2030, they need to reduce emissions by 45% to the 2010 levels to be on track to arrest global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Let us see what takes priority in COP28—demand or environment.

Friends in Bengaluru, beware!

The traffic congestion in your city is going to get worse. The cloud over the IT capital may just get greyer. (Trevor Noah, the famous stand-up comic found the Bengaluru to be lush green).

The world is going sustainable. India too has set a goal to be Net Zero by 2070. Initiatives such as car pool do not just reduce the use of fossil fuel. They also play a detrimental role in improving the sustainability index of a city.

Among these developments, the news from Bengaluru come as an unwelcome surprise.

According to the transport department, using private vehicles with a white registration plate for commercial purposes is illegal. Translated, employees or people taking the same route to work, market, cinema or any other purpose, can no-longer share a private vehicle!

Bengaluru woes:

Bengaluru is already battling traffic congestion as are most metro cities in India. While, the other state governments are encouraging people to use shared resources, Bengaluru is taking a back seat.

I don’t want to argue about why the department succumbed to the illogical demand of the taxi unions to prohibit car-pooling. But I am certainly worried about the impact on climate, people’s lives and the infrastructure.

A Greenpeace report published in January 2022 warned that air pollution levels in Bengaluru are three to four times higher than the set World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Fumes, and other particles emitted in the toxic exhaust will play further havoc in the lives of people. The Bengaluru Sustainability Forum, quoting a study has already warned that increased urbanization has led to urban heat islands and urban areas in the city were 2 degrees warmer than their rural counterparts.

It is a lament, but true. Bengaluru reeled under floods last year. There were lessons learnt. Reams of paper was used to pen key take-aways, one of which was certainly NOT PROHIBIT the use of car pool.

Like any other rapidly urbanizing metro, Bengaluru too has witnessed the impact of climate change.

The near draught like situation in major parts of Bengaluru this year. the unprecedented flooding that submerged most part of the city last year. These may be attributed to natural calamities. But unplanned urban planning marked by large-scale encroachment of lakes and drains has had an impact.

The city’s susceptibility to urban flooding has been highlighted in a number of studies and reports. According to a 2017 study, Bengaluru has lost 79 percent of its water bodies and 88 percent of its vegetation over the course of 45 years. As per government data, the city once had 260 lakes in total, but as of now, only 65 remain.

I believe that the onus to save the environment and the society is not just on the government and the governing bodies. We the people, too, play a part. And WE HAVE STARTED A SMALL MOMENTUM WITH CAR POOL!

I am not sure of the most recent figures. But I can say with certainty that carpooling has greatly reduced energy use, carbon footprint, air pollution, and other costs.

Experts will detail the larger impact on the city in the coming days. But the Bengaluru Transport Department’s recent decision is a classic case study for other states on: WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP PUBLIC WELFARE AT THE FOREFRONT?

In a significant breakthrough, Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation)’s 10,000-ton photovoltaic green hydrogen production project is now live.

The Sinopec Xinjiang Kuqa Green Hydrogen Project is a pilot project and is expected to produce 20,000 tons of green hydrogen annually at full capacity.

The newly produced green hydrogen will gradually replace existing natural gas and fossil energy at Sinopec Tahe Petrochemical. This will enable the hydrogen-producing company to realize low-carbon development in modern oil processing and green hydrogen coupling.

Operationalizing the project is considered a breakthrough in China’s scaled industrial applications of green hydrogen. With the project, China estimates to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 485,000 tons annually.

The Project is China’s first large-scale utilization of photovoltaic power generation to produce green hydrogen directly. The project, which utilizes solar resources in Xinjiang, has an electrolyzed water hydrogen plant with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons, a spherical hydrogen storage tank with a hydrogen storage capacity of 210,000 standard cubic meters, and hydrogen transmission pipelines with 28,000 standard cubic meters per hour.

With a focus on hydrogen transportation and green hydrogen refining, Sinopec is accelerating its hydrogen development by establishing more than 100 hydrogen refueling stations. With this, it will be the owner and operator of the largest number of hydrogen refueling stations in the world.

In addition to the current project, Sinopec’s green hydrogen project in Ordos, which will produce 30,000 tons annually, began construction in February 2023, while the Ulanqab project is now in the planning stage, the company said.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria have gained significant importance in the global investment landscape in recent years. In India, investors, particularly institutional investors, are looking at funds that align with the ESG framework. However, ESG implementation is facing some bottlenecks in the country.

Listed below are some critical challenges:

Lack of knowledge about ESG and long-term benefits: There is a lack of understanding among Indian companies and investors about ESG frameworks and the long-term benefits they offer. As a result, ESG is not a priority for many companies. And investors may not get ESG-compliant investments.

Inadequate frameworks: The current regulatory framework in India does not have effective ESG mandates or incentives to encourage companies to prioritize ESG practices. A lack of clear and enforceable regulations and standards makes it difficult for companies to justify the costs of implementing ESG practices.

Penalties: Penalties for non-compliance vary across different countries. While ESG non-compliance is a criminal offence in some countries, it is still evolving in India.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced several measures to promote ESG compliance among listed companies. SEBI mandated the top 1,000 listed companies to disclose their ESG performance in their annual reports. Failure to disclose ESG performance may result in penalties and other regulatory actions by SEBI. Additionally, SEBI has also proposed the introduction of ESG scores for listed companies, which will be used to determine their eligibility for inclusion in certain indices. While there is still a long way to go, these measures are a step in the right direction towards promoting ESG compliance in India.

Globally, some countries have even gone as far as making ESG non-compliance a criminal offence. For instance, France has introduced a law that criminalizes misleading information about ESG performance and imposes heavy fines and imprisonment for non-compliance.

India’s dependency on fossil fuels: India heavily dependent on fossil fuels for its energy needs. The country is the world’s third-largest consumer of oil and the fourth-largest consumer of coal. This dependency on fossil fuels is the biggest challenge for Indian companies wanting to align with ESG—particularly in the environment and climate change.

Energy transition a long way: While India has set ambitious targets to transition to renewable energy sources, the transition will likely take several years. Until then, companies in energy-intensive sectors may struggle to meet ESG standards, and investors may struggle to find ESG-compliant investments.

To overcome these challenges, there must be a concerted effort by the government, companies, and investors to prioritize ESG. This can be achieved by introducing strong regulatory frameworks and incentives to encourage compliance. These efforts must be backed with greater awareness and education about the benefits of ESG practices and their long-term impact on businesses and society.

By taking these steps, India can become an attractive destination for ESG investments and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Tag: Fossil fuel

COP28, Fossil fuels

What went missing at COP28?
Renjini Liza Varghese

News

KBPO: Fossil Fuel Lobbyists attend UN Climate Talks more than 7000 Times
WriteCanvas News

COP28, Climate action

COP28: The Dilemma of Demand Vs Environment
Renjini Liza Varghese

Bengaluru, Climate change, Carpooling

To car pool or not? NO, determines Bengaluru State Transport Department
Sonal Desai

Bengaluru woes:

Green hydrogen

Sinopec Launches 10,000 Ton Green Hydrogen Project
WriteCanvas News

Blogs

Five challenges hindering ESG adoption in India
Renjini Liza Varghese

COP28, Fossil fuels

What went missing at COP28? Renjini Liza Varghese

News

KBPO: Fossil Fuel Lobbyists attend UN Climate Talks more than 7000 Times WriteCanvas News

COP28, Climate action

COP28: The Dilemma of Demand Vs Environment Renjini Liza Varghese

Bengaluru, Climate change, Carpooling

To car pool or not? NO, determines Bengaluru State Transport Department Sonal Desai

Bengaluru woes:

Green hydrogen

Sinopec Launches 10,000 Ton Green Hydrogen Project WriteCanvas News

Blogs

Five challenges hindering ESG adoption in India Renjini Liza Varghese

What went missing at COP28?
Renjini Liza Varghese

KBPO: Fossil Fuel Lobbyists attend UN Climate Talks more than 7000 Times
WriteCanvas News

COP28: The Dilemma of Demand Vs Environment
Renjini Liza Varghese

To car pool or not? NO, determines Bengaluru State Transport Department
Sonal Desai

Sinopec Launches 10,000 Ton Green Hydrogen Project
WriteCanvas News

Five challenges hindering ESG adoption in India
Renjini Liza Varghese