Message from the Editor

The second and final week of the COP26 climate summit saw climate deniers attempt to distract while protesters demanded stronger action. Our team on the ground in Glasgow has been busy staying on top of it all.

As Phoebe Cooke reports, the head of policy at the UK’s top climate science denial group was criticised for spreading false rumours about the use of diesel-powered generators at COP26, with environmental experts branding his viral tweet “desperate”. And Adam Barnett has the scoop on how an anti-net zero activist claimed to be “evicted” from the climate conference when in reality they were at a fringe event outside the official summit and organisers say she “left of her own accord”.

A new DeSmog analysis has also found that governments sent oil executives to COP26 as part of their delegations. Shell and other publicly traded oil giants are also attending the climate proceedings under the cover of trade groups. This is despite the UK organizers of the summit very publicly declining to offer international oil companies any slots in the conference or any formal role in the event. Nick Cunningham takes a look.

Meanwhile, greenwashing abounds at the climate summit. Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has been criticised for touting its green credentials with free solar-powered WiFi booths at the conference, while remaining involved in multiple gas power projects in Mexico. And General Motors, which has a history of supporting climate science denial and lobbying for weaker climate policies, is sponsoring a COP26 that showcases a “transition to a cleaner world”.

Have a story tip or feedback? Get in touch: editor@desmogblog.com.

Thanks,
Brendan DeMelle

Executive Director

P.S. Readers like you make it possible for DeSmog to hold accountable powerful people in industry and government. Even a $10 or $20 donation helps support DeSmog’s investigative journalism.

Climate Denial Campaigner Attempts to Discredit COP26 With False Diesel Power Claims

— By Phoebe Cooke (3 min. read) —

The head of policy at the UK’s principal climate science denial group has been criticised for spreading false rumours about the use of diesel-powered generators at COP26, with environmental experts branding his viral tweet “desperate”.

Harry Wilkinson, one of several climate science deniers at the Glasgow summit, suggested that the conference was relying on polluting diesel generators in an effort to highlight the supposed hypocrisy of the event.

Anti-Net Zero Activist’s Claim She Was ‘Evicted’ from COP26 Rejected by Organisers

— By Adam Barnett (3 min. read) —

The head of a new UK climate science denial group calling for a referendum on the country’s net zero goal falsely claimed to have been evicted from COP26 and forced to hide in a toilet earlier this week, according to organisers. 

Lois Perry, director of CAR26 – which questions whether carbon dioxide has a “significant role in global warming” – appeared on talkRADIO on Monday claiming security tried to “bundle” her out of the press area at the UN climate summit in Glasgow because “they don’t want free speech”. 

Governments Are Sending Oil Executives to COP26 Despite Climate Pledges. Here’s a Look at the Fossil Fuel Influence in Glasgow

— By Nick Cunningham (6 min. read)—
 

Several top oil-producing countries stacked their delegations to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow with oil and gas industry executives and officials from their oil ministries. In some cases, oil personnel represented significant portions of their overall country delegation, according to a DeSmog analysis.

The UK organizers of the COP26 climate conference very publicly declined to offer international oil companies any slots in the conference or any formal role in the event, and oil companies without credible climate programs were also barred from sponsoring events at the high-stakes international talks currently underway.

Iberdrola Criticised for COP26 ‘Greenwash Gimmicks’ While Expanding Gas-Fired Power

— By Adam Barnett and Phoebe Cooke (12 min. read)—

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — A Spanish energy giant has been criticised for touting its green credentials at COP26 with free solar-powered WiFi booths and a “cycling expedition”, while remaining involved in multiple gas power projects in Mexico.

Iberdrola helps run an annual cycle ride to UN climate summits backed by the International Energy Agency, which recently called for an end to new fossil fuel developments if the Paris Agreement goals are to be met.

General Motors Sponsors COP26 1.5C Pavilion Amid Summit Polluter ‘Greenwash’

— ByPhoebe Cooke (13 min. read)—

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — A U.S car giant with a history of funding climate denial and inaction is sponsoring a COP26 events space that showcases a “transition to a cleaner world”.

General Motors, one of the world’s largest industrial corporations, is backing the “Pathways to 1.5” pavilion at the Glasgow summit, which explores how businesses can reach the Paris Agreement target of restricting global heating to 1.5°C by the end of the century.

‘Shame On You’: Indigenous Campaigners Demand JPMorgan End Fossil Fuel Finance

— ByPhoebe Cooke (4 min. read)—

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — Indigenous activists on Wednesday staged a protest outside JPMorgan Chase headquarters in central Glasgow as pressure on banks to halt oil and gas extraction grows.

A crowd of over a hundred chanted “enough is enough” and “shame on you” outside the American multinational bank’s office building, just over a mile from where crucial talks at the COP26 climate conference are currently taking place.

Denmark and Costa Rica Launch Anti-Oil and Gas Alliance at COP26

— ByRich Collett-White (5 min. read)—

A group of countries and regions led by Denmark and Costa Rica have pledged to phase out oil and gas production in a new initiative launched today at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow.

Wales, Ireland, France, Greenland, Québec and Sweden have joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) as “core” members, which requires winding down any existing projects by a Paris Agreement-aligned date and not issuing new licences.

As COP26 Host Glasgow Touts its Climate Leadership, a Stroll Through the City Reveals its ‘Toxic’ History

— ByRachel Sherrington (4 min. read)—

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — Scotland’s second city has rolled out the green carpet to world leaders and thousands of delegates arriving for climate talks.

The city and its leaders have been eager to present a green image of Glasgow over COP26, with advertisements and billboards across town promoting its climate-friendly projects and initiatives. 

From the Climate Disinformation Database: Harry Wilkinson

Harry Wilkinson is Head of Policy at the Global Warming Policy Forum, campaign wing of the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), a UK think tank found by climate change denier Nigel Lawson with the purpose of combating what the foundation describes as “extremely damaging and harmful policies” that set out to mitigate climate change. This week he attempted to disrupt the COP26 climate conference by falsely suggesting that the conference was relying on polluting diesel generators.

Read the full profile and browse other individuals and organizations in our Climate Disinformation Database and Koch Network Database.