🔗 Share this article Study Reveals UK Ministers Held Meetings With Fossil Fuel Lobbyists On 500 Occasions During Opening Year of Office Based on recent analysis, government ministers held discussions with agents of the fossil fuel industry over 500 times throughout their first year in office – equivalent to two times each business day. Notable Rise Compared to Former Government The research found that oil industry representatives were present at 48% more official discussions during the present administration's opening year relative to the previous year. Ministerial Justification The government justified the engagements, claiming that officials conducted discussions with a diverse array of agents from "energy sector, labor organizations and civil society to propel our renewable energy superpower mission". Rising Worries About Corporate Lobbying However, the findings have caused alarm among analysts about the extent of the oil and gas sector's influence over government at a period when ministers are working to lower bills and shift to a environmentally friendly power framework. Key Findings The study, which utilizes the government's public documentation of ministerial meetings, also found: Representatives at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero held meetings with oil industry representatives 274 times, with sector representatives participating in almost a quarter of meetings. The climate official met with fossil fuel lobbyists 250 times – with 33% of all his meetings attended by industry figures. In the identical timeframe ministry officials met with trade union representatives 61 times. Multiple major oil corporations met with ministers 100 times collectively. Fossil fuel lobbyists attended almost every government meeting about the energy profits levy, a interim levy against the "exceptional earnings" of North Sea petroleum firms. Official Responses A Green party MP stated: "Rather than considering researchers, residents impacted by climate events, or guardians anxious to guarantee a safe future for their future generations, this administration is favoring lobbyists and revenues for major petroleum companies." Ministerial Response The government maintained the results were "inaccurate", claiming numerous of the firms listed also had renewable energy projects and that such matters were frequently the primary subject of the discussions. "Our primary objective is a just, systematic and successful transition in the marine area in accordance with our environmental and statutory requirements, and we are cooperating with the industry to safeguard current and future generations of decent work." Global Background Multiple prominent petroleum industry giants have been criticised for reducing their green investments in the past few years amid a international resistance against environmental measures. A campaigns manager from an climate legal group remarked: "The government promised a government of service, but that shouldn't involve submitting to businesses earning revenue out of ecological disaster. It's time to cease favoring environmental offenders and put people first."