Green & Red Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title: #COP30: “One out of every 25 attendees is a fossil fuel lobbyist, which frankly, is horrifying.” with climate campaigner Collin Rees (G&R 439)
Release Date: November 14, 2025
Hosts: Scott Parkin (Bob Buzzanco absent)
Guest: Collin Rees, U.S. Campaign Manager, Oil Change International
Topic: On-the-ground report from COP30 (UN Climate Talks) in Belem, Brazil

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the state of the COP30 climate negotiations in Belem, Brazil, featuring an in-depth discussion with climate campaigner Collin Rees. Hosted by Scott Parkin, the conversation covers the major themes emerging from the talks, the heavy presence of fossil fuel lobbyists, activism inside and outside the conference, geopolitics (including Venezuela, the Amazon, and Palestine), and U.S. political dynamics as represented by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Context and Key Themes at COP30

[01:20 - 04:57]

• Just Transition Debate:

  • "The big focus of the year is on just transition. That is a contested term… Who that applies to, these are all things that have been fought over for many years." (Collin Rees, 01:27)
  • Talks center on forming mechanisms for a just transition and especially on whether adequate finance will be secured for the Global South.

• Fossil Fuel Phaseout:

  • After being ignored for years, fossil fuel phaseout is finally on the agenda after first mention in a COP document only two years ago.
  • "Is there going to be some sort of mechanism on just transition that comes out of it? … What is the role of actually phasing out fossil fuels in that just transition?" (Collin Rees, 01:37)

• Vibrant Protest Movements:

  • With Brazil as host, civil society is active both inside and outside the conference space—unlike authoritarian host countries of previous years.
  • People’s Summit: A major outside gathering with indigenous leadership, ending with a march and a ceremonial presentation of demands to COP leadership.

2. Indigenous Voices and Civil Society

[04:57 - 05:53]

• Noteworthy indigenous presence and direct action.
  • "Those indigenous folks were not trying to destroy the conference… they were in fact saying, no, our voice is really critical here. There hasn't been enough done to make this process open to civil society and to groups on the ground…" (Collin Rees, 05:14)

3. Fossil Fuel Industry Presence at COP

[05:53 - 09:18]

• Overt Fossil Fuel Lobbying:

  • "There are, as you mentioned, over 1600 fossil fuel lobbyists here at COP. That's higher than last year… it's one out of every 25 attendees is a fossil fuel lobbyist, which is frankly horrifying." (Collin Rees, 06:39)
  • Lobbyists not only attend but work inside party delegations and as part of “astroturf” NGOs to undermine progress.

• Industry Greenwashing and ‘False Solutions’:

  • Oil majors host prominent pavilions; companies like Chevron, Shell, BP, Petrobras openly participate.
  • "You're seeing that kind of, that greenwashing as oil companies try to pretend that they can align with any sort of climate goals." (Collin Rees, 07:07)

• Pushback and Calls for Ban:

  • Growing demands for fossil fuel lobbyist transparency and for their exclusion, following World Health Organization’s tobacco precedent.
  • "There has been some real progress made toward essentially having to declare your affiliations… and many countries starting a real discussion around what it would look like to ban them from the talks." (Collin Rees, 08:29)

4. Geopolitics: Latin America, the Amazon, and Fossil Fuel Conflict

[09:27 - 11:07]

• Venezuela-Guyana Border Conflict:

  • Linked directly to fossil fuel interests as companies like Exxon and Chevron are involved.
  • Not “playing out directly” at COP but permeates the background.

• Controversy in Brazil Over New Amazon Oil Drilling:

  • "…a portion of Lula's government… permit[ted] oil drilling in some blocks of the Amazon rainforest here. And that is something that is massively opposed by the indigenous peoples of the Amazon." (Collin Rees, 10:09)
  • Highlights the challenge of phasing out fossil fuels without global north financial support.

5. Climate, Palestine and Global Solidarity

[11:07 - 13:42]

• Palestine and Other Genocides Enter the Climate Discourse:

  • Explicit connections drawn between fossil fuel politics, environmental destruction, and the genocide in Gaza, as well as Sudan, Congo, etc.
  • "Civil society and many of the governments present absolutely see those connections and are making them known." (Collin Rees, 12:14)

• Direct Action and Research:

  • Oil Change International released a report on global fuel shipments to Israel.
  • Notable in-person strategizing towards a global energy embargo campaign in support of Palestine, with specific involvement of Brazilian oil workers.
  • “There have been beautiful big demonstrations both inside and outside the COP in solidarity with Palestine…” (Collin Rees, 12:37)

6. U.S. Politics and COP: Gavin Newsom’s Role

[14:20 - 17:34]

• Newsom at COP as Senior U.S. Politician:

  • Complex reception: Some see him as a climate leader and alternative to Trump, while frontline communities and activists call out continued fossil fuel extraction and drilling approvals in California.
  • "…there were some tough questions for both Luhan Grisham and for Newsom about what it means to be claiming that mantle of climate leadership while actually not working to phase out fossil fuel production or fossil fuels at home." (Collin Rees, 16:11)

• Memorable Moment:

  • Newsom called Trump an "invasive species when it comes to climate." (Scott Parkin, paraphrasing Newsom at 14:44)

• Newsom’s Contradictions Exposed:

  • “We are simply demanding that he feel the same way about onshore drilling, frankly, or the drilling that's under his control.” (Collin Rees, 17:45)

7. How to Follow COP30 Activism & Resources

[18:01 - 19:10]

• Recommended Sources:
  • Oil Change International (@priceofoil)
  • Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice
  • COP30 hashtag
  • Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Watch

Notable Quotes

• "It's one out of every 25 attendees is a fossil fuel lobbyist, which is frankly horrifying."
  (Collin Rees, 06:40)

• "There hasn't been enough done to make this process open to civil society and to groups on the ground, to frontline communities. That is absolutely true."
  (Collin Rees, 05:17)

• "What is the role of actually phasing out fossil fuels in that just transition?… But now there have been attempts to walk it back, of course."
  (Collin Rees, 01:45)

• "Our organization just released a big new report showing the most recent fuel shipments to Israel from countries around the world and naming and shaming those countries."
  (Collin Rees, 12:17)

• "Newsom called Trump an invasive species when it comes to climate."
  (Scott Parkin, paraphrasing, 14:44)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 01:20 — Overview of key debates at COP30: just transition, fossil fuel phaseout
• 04:57 — Indigenous direct actions and civil society presence
• 06:32 — Fossil fuel lobbyist numbers and influence
• 09:27 — Discussion of Venezuela-Guyana conflict, Brazil’s Amazon oil policy
• 11:07 — Palestine, Sudan, Congo genocides and their climate links
• 14:20 — Gavin Newsom’s presence and reception at COP
• 18:01 — How to follow COP30 and grassroots actions

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a direct, activist, and informed tone, balancing critical analysis with on-the-ground storytelling. Collin Rees speaks candidly about the frustrations and limits of UN climate talks while highlighting the power and presence of people's movements and international solidarity.

Conclusion

This episode provides a sharp, current look inside COP30, revealing both the obstacles posed by fossil fuel influence and the energy of grassroots movements. Listeners gain practical insights into geopolitics, intersectional justice, U.S. political contradictions, and avenues for further engagement.