"Record Number of Carbon-Capture Lobbyists Converge at Cop28"
At least 475 lobbyists representing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, which climate scientists argue will not effectively address global heating, have been granted attendance at Cop28, according to the Centre for Environmental Law. CCS is being heavily promoted by the fossil fuel industry and high-pollution sectors at the summit, despite the consensus among climate scientists that phasing out fossil fuels is the only viable solution. Critics argue that CCS is a delaying tactic and distraction from the urgent need to reduce emissions. The presence of oil and gas lobbyists at Cop28 is unprecedented, outnumbering official Indigenous representatives and several climate-affected countries. The negotiations at Cop28 are focused on the global stocktake and the phase-out of fossil fuels, with major producers accused of blocking an unequivocal agreement.