Davos: Climate Gum-Flapping A-Plenty; "Strategic Partners" BP, Saudi Aramco, Chevron Set Agenda

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In the age of rising populism and the rejection of the scientific consensus on climate change by Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, the conference also includes a panel discussion on ways to bridge the increasing divide between scientific evidence and public opinion. While neither Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, nor Theresa May (who has more pressing threats to solve at home) are expected to attend Davos this year, Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as Brazil’s President earlier this month, will be one of the star attractions.

Bolsonaro has expressed his intention to align Brazil to the politics of the Trump administration. He appointed a Brazilian foreign minister who believes climate change is part of a “cultural Marxists” plot to stifle western economies and pledged to open up the Amazon to miners, farmers and construction companies. Despite concerns about the risks posed by climate change, the summit is known for its polluting extravagance. Last year, 982 private jets set off to the Davos summit — a nine percent increase from 2017, according to global aviation service company Air Partner. The company estimates the price for a private jet from London to Zurich to be around £8,000 for a six-seater light jet.

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Meanwhile, a few of the world’s biggest oil, gas and mining companies are able to shape the conference’s agenda as “strategic partners”. This includes the Adani Group, BP, Centrica, Chevron, GE, LukOil, Reliance Industries, Saudi Aramco and SOCA (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic). A total of 100 global companies benefit from the “strategic partner” status at the WEF. According to the WEF website, these companies provide “essential leadership to support the WEF’s mission of improving the state of the world” and “shape the future through extensive contribution to developing and implementing WEF projects and championing public-private dialogue”.

CEOs of companies which benefit from this status are “personally involved in decision-making and shaping many WEF initiatives” — while the most senior executives are also able to participate on steering boards and in advisory groups.

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https://www.desmog.co.uk/2019/01/17/climate-change-high-agenda-davos-summit-despite-privileged-access-fossil-fuel-industry