The Paris Agreement of 2015 outlines the commitment of 117 member states to reduce the impacts of climate change brought by Green House Gas emissions. Their plan as described in Article 2 of the agreement seeks to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2?C above pre industrial level. It also seeks to limit the temperature increase to 1.5?C above pre industrial level. To make this happen, countries provided their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.
The Agreement which has been termed as ambitious is not short of flaws though. There has been the constant cry of corporate interference from stakeholders in the fossil fuel industry during climate talks. A report titled Fueling the Fire gives references to big corporations that bankrolled COP 21. This in itself is a major conflict of interest. Several civil societies have likened it to the scenario of a fox guarding a henhouse. It is therefore clear that oil corporations have captured climate talks.
From aggressive lobbying at the regional level to financial sponsorship of international meetings, the industry interferes at all levels. Industry cooptation of treaty meetings has been a growing problem and a primary obstacle to progress.
At COP21 in Paris, industry interference was a central concern. The meetings, dubbed the “Corporate COP,” were financially sponsored by dozens of corporations with massive carbon footprints and track records of undermining sound climate policy.
This rampant interference should be addressed if we are to drastically reduce the effects of climate change which is felt in the world over. Big polluters must be kicked out of climate talks.
Kenya’s commitment to reduce its green House gas emissions by 30% by 2030 is a tall order for a developing country. It continues to show commitment to address climate change by putting in place the right policies as well as collaborating with various stakeholders including researchers. Our effort to contribute to the reduction of the global effects of climate change will however not be felt if fossil fuel industries are seated at the table of climate policy making.
