At UN climate talks, fossil fuel interests have hundreds of employees on hand

By MARY KATHERINE WILDEMAN and MICHAEL PHILLIS
Associated Press

At least 1,300 employees of organizations representing fossil fuel interests registered to attend this year’s United Nations climate talks in Dubai. That’s more than three times the number found in an Associated Press analysis of last year’s talks. The jump may be due to new rules that took effect requiring attendees to disclose their employment. The fossil fuel-connected people make up just a tiny share of the 90,000 people who registered to attend the climate summit. But environmentalists have repeatedly questioned their presence at an event where meaningful negotiations have to take aim at the heart of their businesses. The companies say the fact that they make up a big part of global emissions is the very reason they should have a place at the conference.