Transparency crisis at cop30: more than half of climate delegates hide their true affiliations

A damning new report from Transparency International reveals that over half of the delegates attending the COP30 climate summit have concealed or obscured their professional affiliations, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of global climate negotiations.

The anti-corruption watchdog’s analysis of official participant records shows that 54% of national delegation members either failed to disclose their organizational ties or selected deliberately vague categories like “Guest” or “Other” when registering for the summit. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to identify whether delegates represent fossil fuel companies, lobbying groups, or other organizations that might have vested interests in climate policy outcomes.

The findings come as activists warn that humanity faces extinction if fossil fuel extraction continues at current rates, while a separate Climate Action Tracker report reveals that recent climate pledges have failed to reduce projections for dangerous global heating. The transparency crisis threatens to undermine public trust in the COP process at a critical moment when ambitious climate action is desperately needed.

Transparency International is calling on the COP30 presidency and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat to immediately strengthen disclosure requirements for future climate summits. “If COP30 is indeed the COP of truth,” the organization stated, “then ensuring integrity and accountability at every level must be a top priority.” The revelations highlight how powerful interests may be operating in the shadows of climate negotiations, potentially influencing policies that will determine the planet’s future.