Hundreds of industrial agriculture lobbyists, representing major meat, dairy and pesticide companies, used COP29 in Baku to push market-driven climate “solutions,” raising concerns about conflicts of interest in the talks.Rachel Sherrington reports for DeSmog.In short:Over 200 agriculture lobbyists, many tied to corporations like JBS, Bayer and Nestlé, attended COP29, with nearly 40% using country badges for privileged access (a significant jump from just two years ago, when only 5% had this type of accreditation).Critics argue these representatives divert attention from sustainable reforms by promoting technological fixes that fail to address the root causes of emissions from agriculture.Lobbyists oppose tougher environmental regulations, increased supply chain transparency and policies to promote dietary changes.Brazil, hosting next year’s COP, brought the largest delegation of agribusiness representatives, sparking fears of industry dominance in upcoming talks.Key quote:“The significant presence of lobbyists impedes the prospect of meaningful transformations in our food and agricultural systems. This devalues COPs and puts their very raison d’etre at grave risk.”— Kelly Dent, global director of external engagement at World Animal Protection.Why this matters:Industrial agriculture contributes up to one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Allowing its lobbyists to dominate climate summits risks sidelining community-led solutions critical for tackling climate change. Without transparency reforms, corporate interests could hinder essential systemic changes.
Agribusiness lobbyists maintain strong influence at COP29 climate summit
