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Agri-Lobbyists Outnumber Nations at UN Climate Summit
18 Nov
Summary
- Over 300 industrial agriculture lobbyists attended UN climate talks.
- This number exceeds Canada's official delegation size at the summit.
- Agriculture drives one-third of global emissions, impacting climate goals.
A joint investigation revealed that over 300 lobbyists representing industrial agriculture, including cattle farming and commodity grains, participated in the UN climate summit. This number surpassed the official delegation from Canada, a major economy. These lobbyists, with some holding privileged access, represent an industry crucial to global emissions but also a primary driver of deforestation.
Agriculture contributes significantly to global emissions, making radical changes in food production and consumption essential for meeting climate targets. Cattle ranching and industrial soy production, major factors in Amazon deforestation, are at the heart of this issue. Experts warn that without substantial shifts, climate goals will remain out of reach.
The pervasive influence of corporations profiting from environmental destruction is under scrutiny. With agribusiness lobbying heavily and even pushing for increased biofuel use, which can have negative land-use impacts, advocates call for the exclusion of such industries from climate negotiations to ensure genuine climate action.
