Red Carpet for Polluters: Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Flood COP30, Dwarfing Climate-Vulnerable Nations' Voices

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

BELEM, BRAZIL — November 14, 2025.

The promise of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, as a critical "Implementation COP" for the Paris Agreement, has been profoundly overshadowed by a shocking revelation: the fossil fuel industry has achieved its largest-ever share of attendance at a UN climate summit. New analysis from the Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO) coalition reveals that the industry’s presence is not just large—it’s an overwhelming display of corporate influence that actively threatens the talks' stated goals.

The Numbers Tell a Grim Story

According to KBPO's analysis, more than 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists have been granted access to the COP30 negotiations. This colossal figure means that approximately one in every 25 participants in Belém represents the fossil fuel industry.

This overwhelming presence marks a 12% increase in the proportional share of lobbyists since last year's COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The sheer volume of industry representatives is staggering, with the lobbyist count significantly outnumbering almost every country delegation at COP30 —only host country Brazil sent more people.

But perhaps the most damning comparison is the disparity between the polluters and those on the frontlines of the climate crisis:

Fossil fuel lobbyists have received two-thirds more passes to COP30 than all the delegates from the 10 most climate-vulnerable nations combined (1,061 delegates).

The lobbyists outnumber official delegates from the Philippines by nearly 50 to 1—even as that country is battered by devastating typhoons.

They sent more than 40 times the number of people than Jamaica, a nation still reeling from Hurricane Melissa.

Corporate Capture: An Inside Job

The KBPO analysis highlights that this influence is being wielded from the inside. Major trade associations remain a primary vehicle for influence, with the International Emissions Trading Association bringing 60 representatives, including delegates from oil and gas giants ExxonMobil, BP, and TotalEnergies.

Crucially, fossil fuel delegates are also gaining critical, behind-the-scenes access through official country badges. Several Global North nations have included fossil fuel representatives within their official delegations:

France brought 22 fossil fuel delegates, including five from TotalEnergies, one of whom is CEO Patrick Pouyanné.

Japan’s delegation contained 33 fossil fuel lobbyists, with representation from companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Osaka Gas.

Norway included 17 representatives, including six senior executives from its national oil and gas giant, Equinor.

This research shows that at least 164 fossil fuel lobbyists are gaining access through these government badges —a concerning oversight, given that disclosure rules for funding and objectives at COP30 do not apply to those on government badges.

A Mockery of the Process

The coalition’s findings arrive as 2025 is projected to become one of the hottest years on record , and amidst a flurry of fossil fuel expansion, with nearly $250 billion approved for new oil and gas projects since COP29.

"It's common sense that you cannot solve a problem by giving power to those who caused it," said Jax Bonbon from IBON International in the Philippines, a KBPO member. "It is infuriating to watch their influence deepen year after year, making a mockery of the process and of the communities suffering its consequences".

Members of the coalition argue that the continued presence of Big Polluters only serves to push "false 'solutions' that sustain their profit motives and undermine any hope of truly addressing the climate emergency".

The Urgent Call: Kick Big Polluters Out

With the fossil fuel industry "dwarfing the climate finance countries are scrambling to agree on" and its lobbyists given "front row seats to decide our very future" , the call from civil society for clear conflict of interest policies and accountability measures has never been louder.

"As long as Big Polluters are allowed inside these talks... real solutions will remain out of reach," stated Nathan Stewart, Coordinator for Fossil Free Politics.

The coalition, representing more than 450 organizations globally , demands an end to the corporate capture of the climate talks, insisting that the only way to achieve real climate justice and a livable future is to Kick Big Polluters Out of the UNFCCC process now.

PARE calls on NGCP to strengthen Grid

Photo from Canva

Group notes that damaged transmission lines caused province-wide blackouts following typhoons

November 14, 2025 – The Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) has called on the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to shape up and improve its transmission facilities after its fallen lines and towers were the cause of massive blackouts in areas affected by recent typhoons. 

"When Typhoon Uwan struck, NGCP reported that thirty-six transmission lines in Luzon and Visayas became unavailable, instantly taking entire provinces offline. While local electric cooperatives raced to explain and restore neighborhood-level connections, most brownouts were triggered not by the cooperatives but by damaged NGCP lines. Yet the burden and customer anger fell on the electric cooperatives, creating confusion and a misplaced sense of frustration," Nic Satur Jr., Chief Advocate Officer of PARE, said in a statement on November 13, 2025. 

NGCP is responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s critical transmission backbone. Yet progress has been slow, with repeated project delays and unfinished projects, often attributed to right-of-way issues, regulatory hurdles, or procurement problems.

"Numerous vital projects, such as new substations and extra-high-voltage transmission lines in Luzon, Cebu, the Visayas, and Mindanao, remain incomplete, exposing communities to heightened outage risks whenever a storm hits," Satur said.

In the Transmission Development Plan 2025 to 2050, NGCP promises to invest over P1 trillion over the next fifteen years.

"But recent disasters show that these projects urgently need fast-tracking and public accountability, not just long-term visions and paperwork," Satur said. 

PARE notes that amid project delays, NGCP has raised its transmission charges, which are passed on to consumers.

"This November, transmission rates saw a sharp increase of almost 8 percent, with average rates reaching P1 and P0.50 per kilowatt-hour, and ancillary services rates climbing by over 15 percent compared to the previous month," Satur said. 

However, Satur said that for consumers, the result is higher monthly bills, without assurance of grid reliability or faster power restoration in the next calamity.​

"PARE urges NGCP to honor every commitment. The corporation must urgently complete critical substations, backbone transmission lines, and modern grid management systems before the next typhoon, earthquake, or extreme weather disaster," Satur said.

He said NGCP is accountable to the public for every peso charged and every day of project delay. 

PARE called on the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy to strengthen its oversight to ensure that cost increases translate into genuinely improved service and disaster resilience, not just upward adjustments in monthly bills.​

"PARE has appealed for climate-proofing our sector for years. The Philippines is always at risk of typhoons and disasters, yet major power companies and regulatory agencies continue to invest reactively rather than proactively," Satur said.

He added that before the next super typhoon or major earthquake arrives, the sector must prioritize modernization, bury transmission lines in critical areas, and develop coordinated, disaster-proofing strategies.

"The time is now for NGCP to step up. Fast, transparent grid upgrades will save lives, reduce economic losses, and secure the affordable, reliable power every Filipino deserves," Satur said.

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Clean Energy Triumphs: World Reaches a Historic Climate Turning Point as Fossil Fuel Growth Halts in 2025 00

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

The world has reached a monumental milestone in the clean energy transition: for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, no growth in fossil fuel generation is expected for the full year of 2025. This historic turning point is driven entirely by the explosive growth of clean power, which grew fast enough to meet—and even exceed—the world's rising electricity demand in the first three quarters of the year.

According to a new analysis by energy think tank Ember, detailed in its Q3 Global Power Report, this milestone is set to occur even as global electricity demand is projected to see a substantial increase—the sixth largest absolute increase on record at 831 TWh. The link between rising demand and rising fossil generation is finally being severed.

Solar and Wind Exceed All New Demand

The dramatic shift is thanks to record-breaking growth in solar power, combined with a moderate increase in wind generation.

Solar generation rose by an unprecedented 498 TWh (+31%) in the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, the largest increase ever over a nine-month period. This massive surge means solar output in Q1-Q3 2025 has already surpassed its total output for all of 2024.

Wind generation added an additional 137 TWh (+7.6%).

The combined growth from solar and wind was 635 TWh, which successfully outpaced the global rise in electricity demand of 603 TWh (+2.7%) for the first three quarters of 2025.

Despite a fall in hydropower generation of -54 TWh and a minor increase in nuclear generation (+33 TWh) , the rapid deployment of clean power was enough to keep fossil generation flat, resulting in a minor fall of -17 TWh (-0.1%) in the first three quarters of 2025.

"Record solar power growth and stagnating fossil fuels in 2025 show how clean power has become the driving force in the power sector," stated Nicolas Fulghum, Senior Data Analyst at Ember. "Historically a growth segment, fossil power now appears to be entering a period of stagnation and managed decline".

The Global Balance Tips: China and India Lead the Decline

The global stagnation of fossil fuels was tipped into reality by significant declines in China and India, which managed to balance out smaller fossil increases in the EU and US.

Country Change in Fossil Generation (Q1-Q3 2025 vs. 2024) Key Driver of Change

China

-52 TWh (-1.1%) 

Structural decline; fast-growing renewables (including a 44% year-on-year solar growth) met all new demand.

India

-34 TWh (-3.3%) 

Temporary decline; record solar and wind growth combined with unusually mild weather conditions that substantially reduced demand for cooling.

China's contribution to clean power growth was massive, making up more than half of the Q1-Q3 solar growth at 280 TWh. The US and the EU followed with a growth of 71 TWh (+30%) and 52 TWh (+20%), respectively.

The Next Challenge: Sustained Decline

This moment marks a definitive structural shift where clean energy sources are proving they can meet and exceed the accelerating pace of global electricity demand.

For the first time outside of disruptive events like the Global Financial Crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic—years which saw low or no electricity demand growth—clean power has not only kept pace but surpassed demand growth. The share of solar and wind in the global electricity mix rose from 15.2% in Q1-Q3 2024 to 17.6% in Q1-Q3 2025, and all low-carbon sources combined achieved a 43.0% share.

The report concludes that the new challenge is to sustain this growth in 2026 and beyond, which is necessary not only to meet continued strong electricity demand but also to drive fossil generation down from its current levels. This unprecedented stagnation in 2025 is a powerful sign that the world is on the cusp of an accelerated energy transition.