UN Climate Delegates Claim Fossil Fuel Interests Undermining Science Ahead of COP31

Delegates from the EU, Switzerland and dozens of developing nations told a meeting in Bonn that a small group of fossil‑fuel‑backed countries were attacking the scientific basis of climate policy. Fiji’s delegation head Sivendra Michael warned that powerful interests were “holding the process hostage” as vulnerable peoples face heat stress, storms and drought. Negotiators said some states tried to erase references to the IPCC and the 1.5 °C warming limit from draft texts. Saudi Arabia opposed language on El Niño and regular IPCC updates, while India, Saudi Arabia and China pushed to postpone the next IPCC assessment until 2029. The EU called for all parties to uphold science and support the IPCC as the UN‑sponsored COP31 summit prepares to start in Antalya, Turkey.

The dispute highlights the tension between climate‑vulnerable nations and oil‑rich states over the integrity of scientific evidence in the lead‑up to the conference.