✍️ SIGN NOW: Ban fossil fuel lobbyists from COP31
Imagine hosting a conference on quitting smoking and inviting Philip Morris or British American Tobacco to pull the strings behind closed doors. It’s not allowed by the World Health Organisation – and for good reason.
It’s no surprise that fossil fuel corporations are out to sabotage global climate action. But did you know they do it from within UN climate talks?
At last year’s COP29 in Azerbaijan, fossil fuel lobbyists outnumbered the delegations of almost every country. Oil deals were brokered on the sidelines. Ministers were courted at coal and gas sponsored events. And when Scott Morrison was Prime Minister, Australia’s official pavilion proudly promoted gas giant Santos.
It’s how climate negotiations consistently get derailed – and it’s all by design. Coal, oil and gas are the top causes of the climate crisis. Fossil fuel corporations and their lobbyists are given privileged access to push their agenda. They stifle calls to stop opening new gas and coal mines from Pacific leaders, scientists and people around the world – all while lining their pockets.
Now, Australia has a once-in-a-generation chance to stop it.
The Albanese Government is bidding – alongside Pacific Island nations – to host next year’s COP31 climate summit in Adelaide. The decision is expected any day now.
We’re calling on the Australian Government to commit to a fossil fuel-free COP31.
But here’s the kicker: banning fossil fuel corporations and their lobbyists would not only show Australia is serious about climate leadership, but it might even help us win the bid.
✍️ Can you sign the petition calling on the Australian government to ban fossil fuel lobbyists from COP31?
Right now, the Australian government is hard at work trying to convince the world that we should be chosen in partnership with Pacific Island Nations to host COP31 in Adelaide. The UNFCCC, the body that decides the host, is due to announce its decision by September.
Winning the COP31 bid would be a big deal for the Albanese Labor Government. But only keeping fossil fuels in the ground will make it a big deal for the planet.
Banning fossil fuel corporations and their lobbyists could give Australia an edge in winning the bid over Türkiye by demonstrating genuine climate leadership, despite the fact Australia is the third largest exporter of fossil fuels in the world.
And more importantly, it would pave the way for more meaningful climate negotiations that genuinely tackle fossil fuels - a win-win for Australia and the planet
Add your name to the petition now to ban fossil fuel lobbyists from COP31.
To the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy--
We call on the Australian Government to ban fossil fuel corporations and lobbyists from COP31 as a step towards phasing out coal, oil and gas.
These global climate talks should be a space for ambition and hope. But time and again, fossil fuel corporations use it as an opportunity to weaken global agreements and delay meaningful climate action – all while lining their pockets.
We the undersigned call on the Australian Government to show climate leadership by pledging to make an Australian COP, and all future COP meetings, a fossil fuel lobbyist-free zone.