How do corporations influence decisions on climate action?

Summary

In this eye-opening discussion by Global Witness, the influence of corporations, especially fossil fuel companies, on climate action is explored. The video reveals how lobbyists from these corporations infiltrate climate talks to delay progress and protect profits, thereby undermining global climate policies. The discussion also sheds light on the massive financial backing banks provide to damaging agribusinesses, like those involved in deforestation and violence against environmental defenders. Highlighting this 'toxic friendship' between politicians and destructive corporations, the video advocates for prioritizing voices committed to genuine climate solutions and urges a disengagement from corporate influence to enable a swift transition to a green economy.

Highlights

• Fossil fuel companies influence decisions to delay climate action and maintain profits. 🛢️
• Lobbyists are present in climate talks aiming to dilute global climate policies. 👨‍💼
• Banks finance destructive agribusinesses linked to deforestation and violence. 🌳
• Politicians have 'toxic friendships' with corporations rather than focusing on real climate solutions. 👫
• Grassroots voices must be prioritized in major climate decisions for genuine change. 🌍

Key Takeaways

• Corporations, especially fossil fuel companies, heavily influence global climate policies to protect their profits. 🌍
• Lobbyists from these companies participate in climate talks to delay progress and water down policies. 🗣️
• Banks finance agribusinesses involved in deforestation, impacting the environment adversely. 💰
• There's a need to prioritize voices genuinely committed to solving climate issues in talks. 📢
• The youth climate movement and environmental defenders should be central in decision-making. 👥

Overview

Corporations, particularly those in the fossil fuel industry, hold a massive influence over climate policies worldwide. Their vested interests in maintaining the status quo and securing profits lead them to send lobbyists to influence, and often water down, global climate agreements. This influence poses significant challenges to achieving meaningful and swift climate action.

Banks also play a crucial part in this dynamic by providing substantial financial support to agribusinesses that contribute to environmental degradation. The financing facilitates activities that lead to deforestation and violence against environmental activists, further exacerbating the climate crisis and marginalizing the voices that call for genuine change.

The video by Global Witness calls for a significant shift in how decisions at climate talks are made. They emphasize the importance of including and prioritizing voices dedicated to finding real solutions to climate issues. The youth climate movement and environmental defenders should be central to policy decisions, as their futures and lives are directly impacted by these choices. The call to end 'toxic friendships' between politicians and corporations seeks to detoxify the political systems and push for a green economy.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Overview The chapter titled 'Introduction and Overview' discusses the urgent need for world leaders to make bold decisions regarding the climate crisis. It highlights the significant influence of fossil fuel companies on these leaders, suggesting a conflict of interest that hinders effective action. The 'Climate Truths Global Witness' initiative aims to expose the misinformation and provide clarity amidst the jargon, encouraging public advocacy for substantive change.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Lobbyists and Financial Influence The chapter titled 'Lobbyists and Financial Influence' explores the impact of lobbyists on global policy, particularly in environmental matters. It discusses their vested interests in delaying progress to maintain the status quo and protect their profits. The chapter highlights how lobbyists have access to political leaders and may disseminate misleading information, citing an example where Equinor claimed fossil gas to be low-carbon, despite its significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the chapter notes the role of banks in influencing talks, mentioning their substantial financial investments, exceeding 44 billion dollars, that support such influences.
• 01:30 - 02:00: The Impact of Banks The chapter discusses the significant role banks have in environmental issues, specifically through financing activities. It highlights how financial institutions, like Santander, have provided substantial funding to companies linked to environmental harm. A particular case is the underwriting of over a billion dollars in financing to Marfrig, a leading beef producer, which is accused of sourcing cattle from illegally deforested areas. Despite these accusations, there are claims of transitioning towards more sustainable practices.
• 02:00 - 02:30: False Promises and Real Friends The chapter titled 'False Promises and Real Friends' discusses the disparity between those who should have a say in climate decisions and those who actually do. It points out that real advocates for the natural environment and communities directly affected by climate breakdown are often underrepresented at major climate conferences. Instead, decisions are frequently influenced by entities that might not prioritize genuine environmental protection. The chapter highlights the paradox of relying on these 'toxic friends' while sidelining the genuine stakeholders whose livelihoods are dependent on natural resources.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Hidden Truths and Political Influence The chapter titled 'Hidden Truths and Political Influence' discusses the corrupting power of money in politics. It reveals how companies finance agribusinesses that are responsible for environmental destruction and violence against protestors. These companies also have the ear of elected leaders, influencing policies in their favor. This results in politicians becoming accomplices to these crimes by favoring the interests of those profiting from the climate crisis over those seeking solutions. The chapter underscores the brokenness of the current system.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Call to Action The chapter 'Call to Action' emphasizes the urgent need to cleanse political systems of corporate influence to facilitate a rapid transition to a green economy. It highlights the importance of excluding destructive companies from global climate discussions. The chapter stresses that the voices of the youth climate movement, who have the most at stake, must be heard. Furthermore, it advocates for the inclusion and prioritization of land and environmental defenders in climate policy decision-making, recognizing their invaluable solutions.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Conclusion and Engagement The chapter 'Conclusion and Engagement' focuses on encouraging a break away from associations with harmful corporate influences, likening them to toxic friendships. It urges those in power to dissociate from these negative relationships and emphasizes taking action by using social media tools to spread awareness. Readers are prompted to share related content with the hashtag #EndPollutersPower and sign a pledge on Global Witness's website.

How do corporations influence decisions on climate action? Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 world leaders urgently need to make bold decisions that tackle the climate crisis the fate of the planet is in the hands of our elected leaders or so you'd think but who else is in the room bending their ears and influencing decisions in climate truths global witness will help you spot the lies make sense of the jargon and push for change our elected leaders are stuck in toxic friendships with the companies fueling the crisis fossil fuel companies send
• 00:30 - 01:00 lobbyists to influence the talks and water down global policy they have a clear vested interest in delaying progress maintaining the status quo and protecting their profits and they have access to political leaders too toxic friends lie you know the ones like when equinor said fossil gas is low carbon when in reality is responsible for half of the recent increase in greenhouse gas emissions banks will be influencing the talks they provided more than 44 billion dollars in
• 01:00 - 01:30 finance to agribusinesses linked to the destruction of the amazon and the violence towards environmental defenders but of course with toxic friends it's never their fault global witness estimates santander one of the main sponsors of the cop 26 climate talks underwrote over one billion dollars in financing to marthrick between 2013 and 2018. mafrig is one of the world's leading beef producers with a supply chain including cattle from illegally deforested areas they say they are transitioning to a
• 01:30 - 02:00 thriving low-carbon global economy but that's just what a toxic friend would say the real friends who should be in the room for all major climate decisions and the ones defending the natural environment those communities dedicated to averting climate breakdown in reality they make up just a small fraction of attendees their lives depend on the rivers forests and lands that are being destroyed at these talks their involvement can be tokenistic and overshadowed by the power
• 02:00 - 02:30 that dirty money buys the really nasty truth is the companies financing the agribusinesses that destroy their lands and murder them when they protest for the ones whispering in the ears of our elected leaders and influencing policy by prioritizing those responsible our leaders are accomplices in these crimes when politicians are listening to the very people who are profiting from the climate crisis and not the ones trying to solve it we know the system is broken
• 02:30 - 03:00 we must demand our political leaders end these friendships and detoxify our political systems away from corporate influence destructive companies must be removed from global climate talks ending their influence so we can quickly transition to a green economy the youth climate movement must be heard in talks it is their future that is most at stake land and environmental defenders must be included and prioritized in all top level climate policy decision making they have the real solutions and need
• 03:00 - 03:30 protection against corporate sponsored violence we've all had bad friends they can be manipulative never take responsibility or even lie and they hurt the people we care about most breakups are hard but it's time for the people in power to make a clean break from their toxic friends for good visit the toxic friend social media toolkit for images posts and filters to use across your social platforms share this film with the hashtag end polluters power and sign the pledge on globalwitness.org today
• 03:30 - 04:00 [Music]