Fossil fuel links found in nearly 1 in 10 entries in Australia’s COP Party Overflow delegation
Nearly in in 10 participant entries in Australia’s Party Overflow delegation at three successive UN climate conferences had links to fossil fuel interests, according to a report by Transparency International Australia.
Badge Check: Who Australia lets into climate negotiations examined 780 participant entries across COP28, COP29 and COP30. It identified fossil fuel links in 76 of the 236 business and commercial entries analysed—32.2 per cent.
Of the 76 fossil fuel-linked entries, 14 involved direct interests, 48 involved partial exposure and 14 involved financial exposure. Together, these represented almost one in ten of all Party Overflow entries examined.
The findings come as Australia prepares to lead negotiations at COP31 next week, providing an opportunity to strengthen safeguards conflict of interests and access to the talks.
Party Overflow badges provide access to the conference’s Blue Zone through Australia’s delegation, creating opportunities to engage with decision-makers. They do not authorise badge holders to negotiate or speak on Australia’s behalf.
“Australia has a leadership opportunity to set a higher standard for integrity in climate negotiations, starting with transparency about who receives access through its own delegation,” said Clancy Moore, CEO Transparency International Australia.
“The public should be able to see who is attending, whose interests they represent and how potential conflicts are managed.”
The report assessed organisational links across three categories: direct fossil fuel interests, partial exposure through ongoing activities or clients, and financial exposure through fossil fuel financing.
The analysis does not establish that individual participants lobbied, opposed climate action or influenced negotiating outcomes. It identifies organisational affiliations and exposure that warrant transparent disclosure and appropriate safeguards.
“Public trust in COP has been eroded by repeated conflict-of-interest controversies, including Santos’ prominent display at the Australia Pavilion at COP26. Australia must help rebuild that trust with clear rules, full disclosure and safeguards against undue influence,” said Moore.
Transparency International Australia is calling on Australia to:
• Publish clear selection criteria, participant lists and relevant affiliations for its delegation and Party Overflow badge holders.
• Adopt and publish conflict-of-interest safeguards, including declarations of interests for the COP Presidency team and negotiators.
• Establish a public register of meetings between the Presidency and external stakeholders.
• Ensure the Presidency team and national delegation exclude representatives of fossil fuel and other high-polluting industries.
• Champion binding transparency and conflict-of-interest rules across the UN climate process.
Notes:
The analysis draws on official UNFCCC participant lists for COP28, COP29 and COP30. Entries represent attendance at one conference; a person attending multiple conferences is counted separately each time. Fossil fuel screening covered only the business and commercial category and assessed declared organisational affiliations, rather than individuals’ views or conduct.