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(CNN) -
More than 100 fossil fuel companies have sent 500 people to the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, more than any other country at the summit, according to the environmental campaign group. Global Witness.
The group analyzed the UN provisional list of appointed corporate attendees and found that at least 503 people with ties to coal, oil and gas companies were at the conference.
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The list included people directly affiliated with fossil fuel companies, such as Shell, Gazprom and BP, as well as those attending as members of delegations and groups that act as lobbyists on behalf of the fossil fuel industry.
The largest contingent at COP26
The analysis revealed that the fossil fuel lobby numbered about two dozen more than the largest delegation of countries.
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They also outnumber local event officials by roughly two to one, as well as the number of delegates from the eight countries most affected by climate change in the past two decades: Puerto Rico, Myanmar, Haiti, Philippines, Mozambique, Bahamas. , Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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"The presence of hundreds of people being paid to further the toxic interests of polluting fossil fuel companies will only heighten skepticism from climate activists who see these talks as further proof of the leaders' hesitation and delay. worldwide, "said Murray Worthy, gas campaign leader at Global Witness.
"The scale of the challenge ahead of us means that there is no time for us to be diverted by
'greenwashing'
or by nonsensical corporate promises that do not correspond to reality. It is time for politicians to show that they are serious. the ability to end the influence of big polluters in political decision-making and commit to a future in which the voices of experts and activists take center stage. "
Canada, Russia and Brazil were among the countries that registered the attendance of members of the fossil fuel industry.
Growing criticism of COP26
The analysis comes amid growing criticism from civil society groups, who believe the event is not as inclusive as promised.
COP26 President Alok Sharma has pointed to the need for social distancing as the reason why some people, including those with observer status, have not been able to enter the rooms where the negotiations are taking place.
A recent report from the United Nations Environment Program showed that many of the world's largest fossil fuel producers continue to plan to increase their production in the coming years, and that by 2030 they will burn far more fossil fuels than is consistent with global climate commitments.
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The analysis used the plans of 15 major economies to estimate that the world will produce roughly 110% more coal, oil and gas in 2030 than would be necessary to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and 45% more than what would be consistent with 2 degrees.
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