Dubai - COP28 has officially earned the title of the largest UN climate summit to date, boasting an impressive 80,000 registered participants. Notably, this marks the first instance in which the participant list discloses their affiliations.
A staggering 104,000 individuals, inclusive of technical and security personnel, hold access to this year's "blue zone," dedicated to the substantive climate negotiations and the pavilions of participating states and organizations.
This figure significantly surpasses the previous attendance record set at COP27 in Egypt last year, which had 49,000 accredited participants. During COP27, oil and gas lobbyists outnumbered delegates from most national representations, as noted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The current summit sees the presence of nearly 23,500 individuals from official government teams. Accompanying them are 27,208 policy experts, academics, professionals from various organizations, and high-ranking executives from major oil corporations. While these guests lack the same level of access to negotiations as official delegates, their participation has sparked concerns regarding the potential influence of big business on the discussions.
Prominent figures attending from the host country include Bill Gates and Antoine Arnault, the son of Bernard Arnault, the LVMH chief and the world's second-richest individual according to Forbes magazine, trailing only Elon Musk.
The accreditation list encompasses over 14,000 non-governmental organizations, spanning environmental advocacy groups to industry lobbyists. In June, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for fossil fuel companies to refrain from "influence peddling" and legal maneuvers hindering progress toward averting climate destabilization.
Organizers report that approximately 400,000 individuals have registered for day passes to the expansive "green zone" surrounding the talks at the Dubai Expo 2020 site. This area has been transformed into a large fair spotlighting businesses and innovations in environmental sustainability.