RimbaWatch claimed that based on its analysis of Malaysia’s COP29 delegate list published by a UN secretariat, the number of Malaysian fossil fuel lobbyists at COP29 “outnumbered the official delegations of entire countries including Singapore”.

In a statement, RimbaWatch said Malaysia had sent 151 delegates representing business interests to the current COP.

It said this eclipsed Malaysia’s core delegation of 89 delegates from the relevant ministries and government agencies by nearly two-to-one.

Of the 151 delegates, 44 were representatives of companies that have significant investments in fossil fuel expansion or which are part of a trade body representing fossil fuel interests, it said.

“The fossil fuel industry is the leading driver of global emissions today,” RimbaWatch added.

It urged Putrajaya to be fully transparent on the party overflow badge selection process and to disclose the specific purpose and activities of these delegates at COP29, particularly those representing fossil fuel interests.

Party overflow badges are granted by the government to additional participants who are not part of its official delegation. These badge holders only serve as observers.

RimbaWatch also called on Putrajaya to adopt an exclusion list for overflow badges.

“This list should include representatives of businesses which are involved in, and committed to, the future expansion of environmentally harmful activities such as fossil fuel companies and businesses promoting false solutions to climate change.”

RimbaWatch also said the government should ensure that civil society organisations (CSOs), indigenous communities, and climate scientists are prioritised in future awarding of overflow badges.

Based on its analysis of the delegate list, RimbaWatch said representatives of local CSOs comprised the smallest group sent to COP under the party overflow system, at only eight delegates from four organisations.

“It is also notable that no representative of an indigenous-led CSO, or a CSO focused on Sabah and Sarawak affairs, was awarded an overflow badge,” it said.