This is a much talked about figure in Sharm el-Sheikh at the UN climate summit . According to calculations by several NGOs, “636 lobbyists from the oil and gas sector” were accredited this year, a quarter more than a year ago for the conference held in Scotland, in Glasgow. They travel on behalf of their company or represent the sector, sometimes in delegation. One year from COP28, the future host nation, the United Arab Emirates, has by far the largest contingent.

For observers, there is no doubt that the major fossil fuel producers are more comfortable in Sharm el-Sheikh than in Glasgow. To the great displeasure of environmental associations indicating that coal, oil and gas were the first to contribute to global warming .

“Don’t invite mosquitoes”

“I have attended eight COPs and have never seen such a flashy promotion of oil and gas from a president before,” tweeted David Tong, campaign manager at Oil Change International and President of Greenpeace New Zealand. The activist fears that the “unprecedented presence of an oil and gas lobby” in Sharm el-Sheikh could mask “real progress in eliminating fossil fuels here at COP27”.

India has in fact put on the table the negotiations currently underway on a joint declaration by all countries, hopefully by the end of the week, the idea that it will no longer include “gradual coal cuts” as decided in Glasgow, but all fossil fuels concerned. This will be an important step forward at the COP, we believe in the French delegation.

“If you want to fight malaria, you don’t invite mosquitoes,” bluffed climate activist Greta Thunberg, who didn’t attend Egypt . An opinion not shared by a specialist in the energy sector who requested anonymity. “The aim is not to distribute good and bad points, it would be ridiculous not to have them. On the other hand, to be able to suppress producers, they must come. They have to show that they are investing heavily in the transition: in decarbonization, in renewable energy, etc. “, he believed.

Hydrogen, methane, carbon capture…

This year, TotalEnergies, represented by a delegation of four experts, was invited by the Egyptian COP Presidency to participate in a public roundtable on renewable energy development and the energy challenges of African countries. “If I’m here, it’s because I think we have to face problems. We know that fossil fuels are part of the problem. I basically believe that we are part of the solution,” said Patrick Pouyanné at FranceInfo. This did not prevent the French oil company boss from being questioned by activists on Friday about TotalEnergies’ presence in Russia and its projects in East Africa.

While Europe is looking for alternatives to Russian gas through the winter – while remaining determined to speed up its energy transition, in the COP space where many events are being held on the sidelines of official negotiations, we never have much to say. on hydrogen, reducing methane emissions associated with hydrocarbon production or carbon capture and storage. And the Egyptian presidency has planned, this Tuesday, a day dedicated to energy, after devoting a day to decarbonization.

States also make themselves heard loud and clear. Saudi Arabia, which organized a forum on “green initiatives in the Middle East” in parallel with last week’s summit, also announced a project for a giant carbon capture center. A controversial process, its detractors fear it will push to continue exploiting hydrocarbons, but one where the world leader in oil is calculated to achieve the carbon neutrality it has promised by 2060. Asked by Bloomberg, Energy Minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, has no qualms: “I believe that Saudi Arabia will become a hydrocarbon producer even by the end of the 21st century.”