São Paulo, Sep 3 (EFE) – Environmental organizations fear that the upcoming UN Climate Conference (COP30), set for November in Belém, could become a commercial showcase for the oil lobby.
The fossil fuel sector is increasingly promoting a controversial emissions-reduction technology: Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage systems (CCUS). Environmentalists dismiss it as a “false solution.”
According to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), oil companies have expanded their influence at recent climate summits. At COP28 in Dubai, 475 CCUS lobbyists were accredited. At COP29 in Baku, that number rose to 480.
Now COP arrives in Brazil, a green powerhouse home to ecosystems like the Amazon and the Pantanal—but also one of the world’s top 10 crude producers, according to 2024 figures from the Brazilian Petroleum and Gas Institute.
Concerns over CCUS pressure at COP30
Rachel Kennerley, CIEL’s international carbon capture campaign lead, told EFE she expects “a considerable delegation of carbon capture and storage lobbyists at COP30, despite the technology’s track record of failure.”
“This level of pressure is worrying, though not surprising, because CCUS is a lifeline for coal, oil, and gas industries that are looking for fanciful ways to avoid effective climate action,” she added.
What is CCUS?
CCUS refers to a group of technologies aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions through four stages.
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Capture: CO₂ is separated from other gases in industrial facilities or directly from the atmosphere.
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Transport: The CO₂ is compressed and moved through pipelines or ships.
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Storage: It is injected underground in geological formations.
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Utilization: It can be reused in certain industrial processes.
Brazilian state-run oil giant Petrobras claims to operate the “largest” CO₂ capture program in the world.
“In 2022, we broke the world record for CCUS, according to the Global CCS Institute, reaching 10.6 million tons reinjected, equivalent to 5.8 billion cubic meters of CO₂,” the company said.
A “greenwashing” tool, NGOs argue
Ilan Zugman, Latin America and Caribbean director at 350.org, warned that CCUS is an “expensive” and “very dangerous” technology.
“It has to be stored in deep areas and monitored for decades. There’s a risk of leaks, even explosions. Oil companies just want to keep their business going and put on a green mask,” he said.
He stressed that capturing CO₂ is not the same as reinjecting it.
“Petrobras does a lot of gas reinjection, but it’s to maintain reservoir pressure and make it easier to pump out more oil,” Zugman explained.
Kennerley also noted that “governments are already channeling billions of dollars in public funds into CCUS technologies despite their track record of failure.” She pointed out that “78% of large-scale projects have been canceled or put on hold.”
Calls for stricter UN policies
In this context, Zugman urged the UN to adopt a conflict-of-interest policy at climate summits and limit fossil fuel lobbyists.
“I hope Brazil can work more closely with the UN to establish a better filter, because COPs have to some extent become business platforms, with companies positioning themselves as the solution when in fact they are the opposite,” he said.
Green Economy Forum to debate climate challenges
The issue will also be addressed at the 3rd Latin American Green Economy Forum, organized by Agencia EFE in São Paulo on Thursday.
The event will gather officials, experts, and corporate representatives. It is supported by Imaflora, the Climate Observatory, and IBMEC University, and sponsored by Norte Energia, ApexBrasil, and Lots Group. EFE