Brussels, 12 November 2026 – The governments of France and Belgium continued to grant fossil fuel lobbyists privileged access to the UN climate talks in Antalya, Türkiye, but in smaller numbers than the previous three years. Italy, however, brought more than four times as many to COP31 as COP30. For the third year in a row, the European Commission did not give any representatives of the fossil fuel industry access to the talks via its delegation.
The Fossil Free Politics coalition and its national members had written to the European Commission as well as ministers in Italy, France, and Belgium urging them to refuse accreditation – including overflow badges – to fossil fuel lobbyists and executives at COP31. This followed revelations that the three were the worst offenders in the European Union in terms of bringing fossil fuel lobbyists to COP.
Analysis of the COP31 participants list by Fossil Free Politics reveals that:
- Italy brought 50 fossil fuel industry representatives to COP31, almost as many as it brought to the previous three COPs combined (55). It’s delegation included oil and gas major Eni, who sent its chief international lobbyist, as well as gas utility Edison (7 people).
- France brought 17 fossil fuel lobbyists, fewer than last year (22). However, it once again included TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné on its delegation, whose company has been aggressively lobbying against efforts to curb methane emissions. Its four delegates were joined by four from gas giant ENGIE, despite its anti-climate lobbying.
- Belgium left well-known gas companies Fluxys and ENGIE at home, but still invited five representatives from Jan de Nul, including its CEO of offshore energy, Philippe Raymond A. Hutse. Despite publicly messaging on the energy transition, it recently agreed to work with on its controversial offshore LNG project in Mozambique.
- All were brought in on “party overflow” badges, which give senior oil and gas executives access to private negotiating spaces and government-only areas which are ideal for lobbying.
- The European Commission yet again left fossil fuel lobbyists back in Brussels, but it is refusing to take an official position that it will do so in the future, despite public pressure and a seemingly easy win.
Elena Gerebizza, ReCommon campaigner, says:
“We asked the Italian government to not bring fossil fuel lobbyists to COP31 but they turned up in Turkey with an unprecedented fifty of them on their delegation. That’s far more than the 12 they took to Brazil. Energy prices are skyrocketing, families are on their knees, and the national economy is suffering. We have just emerged from the hottest summer on record, still grappling with the damage caused by extreme weather events in recent years. Yet, the government couldn’t care less: instead of fossil fuel companies being made to pay for the impact of their operations, Meloni is giving them a seat at the table where solutions are supposed to be discussed.”
Pascoe Sabido, Corporate Europe Observatory researcher and campaigner, says:
“By leaving fossil fuel lobbyists at home, the European Commission is doing what needs to be done, but why is it refusing to officially say so? They clearly get that bringing arsonists to a fire-fighting convention is a glaring conflict of interest, but we need them to say so publicly and declare they won’t bring them to any future COPs either. What are they afraid of?”
Nathan Stewart, Fossil Free Politics coordinator, says:
“Despite knowing better, countries like France and Italy are still rolling out the red carpet for some of the world’s worst polluters. We know how damaging their lobbying is, just look at the EU’s weakened and delayed methane rules. So why are these lobbyists being brought into the UN climate talks? People are already being battered by extreme weather and high energy prices, so seeing our politicians bringing the same oil and gas lobby who are responsible is not a good look. Why not leave them at home and show us you’re on our side instead?”