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The Accreditation of Executives from the Oil and Agriculture Sectors for COP30, Including Names from Braskem, JBS, and IBP, Generates Controversy Over the Directions of Brazilian Environmental Policy and the Interests Behind the Energy Transition.
Among the more than 3,800 badges distributed across Brazil for the COP30, the presence of names linked to the oil, gas, and agriculture industry stands out. The list, released by the UN at the beginning of the week, includes executives from Braskem, JBS, Brazilian Institute of Oil, Gas and Biofuels (IBP), Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM), Eneva, and the National Industry Confederation (CNI).
These representatives will circulate in the so-called Blue Zone, the central space of the event where global climate decisions are discussed and negotiated. The presence of companies operating in carbon-intensive sectors has sparked criticism from environmentalists and climate governance experts, who point out contradictions in the composition of the Brazilian delegation.
Official Credentials Reveal the Political and Economic Weight of Oil
According to information published by Folha de S.Paulo, the Brazilian government indicated around 2,805 people for the official accreditation of COP30. In addition to public authorities, ministry technicians, and civil society members, the list includes corporate executives associated with oil and mining, sectors seen as major greenhouse gas emitters.
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Among the accredited individuals, there are three representatives from IBP and three from IBRAM, as well as two members from CNI. The brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista, controllers of the J&F group, which, in addition to JBS, holds Âmbar Energia, a company that operates fossil gas and coal plants, are also included.
Another 11 names belong to the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE), which brings together giants in the agribusiness sector such as Bunge, Cargill, Amaggi, and Louis Dreyfus. The accreditation of these companies — with significant environmental impact and involvement in the fossil fuel chain — reinforces the influence of traditional sectors in shaping the country’s energy and environmental policies.
Transparency International Criticizes Lack of Clarity in Name Selection
According to Renato Morgado, program manager at Transparency International – Brazil, the government should have adopted more transparent criteria to define the national delegation. He stated that “there should be detailed disclosure of institutional ties and decision-making processes that seek to influence, in addition to the adoption of mechanisms for managing conflicts of interest and codes of ethics and conduct.”
The criticism mainly falls on the lack of clear information about who represents what within the Brazilian delegation. For experts, the presence of executives linked to oil at an event focused on reducing emissions is seen as a sign of contradiction in Brazil’s climate stance.
Petrobras Maintains Discreet Profile and Avoids Controversy at the Conference
Despite the state-owned company’s weight, Petrobras has adopted a discreet stance at COP30. No high-ranking members were sent to the event. The only notable representative is Viviane Canhão, global director of Decarbonization and Climate Change. Other names mentioned by CNN are said to be executives at intermediate levels.
The absence of the state-owned company’s top leaders also extends to the reserved meeting between oil companies and the conference president, André Corrêa do Lago. The reason, according to sources cited by the press, would be to avoid public embarrassment and opposition to oil exploration at the mouth of the Amazon River, a theme that has sparked controversies both within and outside the government.
Government Defends Oil Exploration Under Climatic Argument
While Petrobras opts for silence, members of the federal government openly defend the exploration of new oil reserves. The Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, stated in an interview with the newspaper O Globo that Brazilian oil is less polluting than that of other countries.
According to him, “if Brazil were to cease its fossil fuel production, it would start emitting more polluting gases,” since it would have to import more carbon-intensive petroleum derivatives. Costa further argues that there is a “demand that cannot be ignored” and that the country should leverage its natural resources to strengthen its energy matrix.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), reinforced this narrative by advocating for a fund for the energy transition financed by revenues from oil itself. The proposal, according to him, would help finance investments in clean energy and accelerate the decarbonization process of the economy.
Critics Alert to Contradictions in the Energy Transition
The Climate Observatory, a network that brings together environmental organizations and public policy experts, challenges the view that oil can be considered a sustainable bridge. The group emphasizes that Brazil has an abundance of renewable sources — such as solar, wind, and biomass — and does not need to open new fronts for exploration to meet its energy needs.
According to the entity, the notion of “energy transition” has been distorted by sectors seeking to maintain the dominance of oil. The true transition, experts explain, “is not to cease production overnight, but to gradually reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”
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