Largest-ever presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP30 revealed as study confirms Asia’s deadly typhoons made worse by climate change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2025
Largest-ever presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP30 revealed as study confirms Asia’s deadly typhoons made worse by climate change
A new analysis by Kick Big Polluters Out shows a record-breaking presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP30, a 12% increase from last year’s climate talks in Baku. The news comes as a new rapid attribution study conducted by Imperial College confirms climate change, caused by fossil fuels, made deadly typhoons Fung-Wong and Kalmaegi that devastated the Philippines and Vietnam more likely and more severe, highlighting the human cost of political inaction on fossil fuels.
Norly Mercado, 350.org Asia Regional Director, said:
“It’s no longer a coincidence that we’ve been battered by back-to-back typhoons right at the beginning of COP for two consecutive years now–it’s science. Typhoon Fung-Wong made landfall near my hometown, Isabela province. It was heartbreaking to see that just kilometers away, people are clinging onto their roofs for dear life or living in temporary shelters while floods wash away their homes. We have suffered incalculable losses due to greed and climate inaction.
The 1600 fossil fuel representatives at COP30 outnumber official delegates from the Philippines by nearly 50 to 1, and “fossil fuel lobbyists have received two thirds more passes to COP30 than all the delegates from the 10 most climate vulnerable nations combined”. The Philippines contributes less than 0.4% of global emissions, yet faces some of the world’s most destructive climate impacts.
“We demand nothing less than an ambitious COP30 outcome that will ensure big polluters pay their climate debt –not just so we can rebuild our lives, but so we can build resilience and protect future generations from harm. We are outraged that the same climate wreckers and denialists who have profited from our misery have been invited to the negotiating table while we continue to wait for crumbs.” said Norly Mercado.
Typhoon Fung-Wong, known for its exceptional size, displaced over one million people and has so far recorded 27 deaths in the Philippines, with rescue operations still ongoing as floodwaters have yet to recede. Its impact continues to be felt in Taiwan, with thousands evacuated. The new study shows climate change increased Fung Wong’s maximum wind speed by 5%, eyewall rain by 10.5% and economic damage in the Philippines by 42%.
A week prior, Typhoon Kalmaegi killed more than 200 people in the Philippines while displacing thousands in Vietnam. Analysis of Typhoon Kalmaegi, the most powerful typhoon to make landfall in Vietnam in 2025, shows climate change increased its likelihood by 33%, increased maximum wind speed by 3%, eyewall rain by 8.6% and economic damage in Vietnam by 9%.
Civil society led by Indigenous leaders is uniting at COP30 to demand an end to climate-wrecking fossil fuels and a commitment to a just transition including finance and loss and damage. In July, the International Court of Justice ruled continued fossil fuel expansion and consumption could leave governments liable for reparations to citizens.
Amid the troubling news of the fossil fuel industry’s presence at COP30, we must continue demanding a clear roadmap for the rapid and equitable phase out of oil, gas and coal and climate finance in the form of grants so countries facing the worst climate impacts can rebuild from the devastating impacts they haven’t caused. Despite the presence of climate wreckers whose interests include making profits for the wealthy minority while wreaking havoc on our planet, it is essential to safeguard the integrity and legitimacy of these negotiations in the name of the global majority.
Note to editors
A media huddle and Q&A including researchers and climate disaster survivors is taking place at COP30 to discuss the findings of the Imperial College rapid attribution study.
Date: Friday 14th November 2025
Time: 10:30AM BRT
Location: Blue Zone, outside media center
Format: Opening remarks will be followed by a journalist Q&A
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