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wednesday, 18 july
2001
corporate lobbyists hit the climate
talks
FOE 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:
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Fossil Energy industries - 84 reps
including 28 from oil companies
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Management Consultants and businesses
promoting emissions trading - 72 reps
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Automotive industry - 22 reps Nuclear
industry - 21 reps
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Aluminium (very energy intensive
industry) -20 reps
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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 (!)
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:
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Exxon
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1 rep
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Texaco
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5 reps
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Chevron
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3 reps
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BNFL
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2 reps
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General Motors
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2 reps
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TotalFinaElf
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1 rep
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Statoil
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1 rep
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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."
Contact:
Duncan McLaren 00 44 7941 920 469
Ian Willmore 0174 1260 4808 or 00 44 7887
641 344
Howard Mollett 00 41 792 160 206
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