As COP29 negotiations near the end, global activists call on governments to Make Polluters Pay, to deliver COP Roadmaps
Campaigners roll a giant oil barrel balloon into the heart of COP30 and shower “polluter money” to spotlight how fossil fuel industry wealth should be used to unblock the climate talks.
Photos available to download here. Free to use with attribution to David Tong.
Belém, Brazil —Today, campaigners from the Make Polluters Pay Coalition, Oxfam, Greenpeace, the Glasgow Actions Team and allied civil society demanded that polluters pay their climate debt—so that COP negotiations can move from roadmaps to real climate action.
Activists inflated a massive balloon in the shape of an oil barrel emblazoned with the message “MAKE POLLUTERS PAY”, accompanied by showers of fake currency notes symbolizing the climate finance urgently needed to unblock the negotiations that have failed to cut emissions after 30 years.
During the action, ‘oil executives’ brashly revelled in their vast wealth and stranglehold over governments, boos, cheers and chants from a lively audience.
Across the conference, momentum is building around a set of roadmaps or “schedules” — inspired by Lula’s opening speech and explored by roughly 40 countries at a recent BOGA (Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance) meeting — that would guide countries toward fossil fuel phaseout, forest protection, and accelerated implementation of NDCs. While promising, these proposals are not yet part of formal negotiations and remain unfunded.
Activists warn that:
Roadmaps without finance are maps to nowhere.
Wealthy countries have no clear plan to meet the pledged US$300 billion per year by 2035, nor the US$1.3 trillion in mobilised finance.
Adaptation funding remains especially scarce—even as COP30 has been billed as a pivotal moment for Global South resilience.
Several countries now back a Premium Flyers levy and other solidarity mechanisms, though they remain far from closing the finance gap.
As Jamie Henn, a spokesperson for Make Polluters Pay US, put it: “Roadmaps are useless without money to pay for the journey. COP30 plans still need funding, and polluters should pay to close the gap.”
Louise Hutchins from Make Polluters Pay international said: “While President Trump shouts ‘drill baby drill’ from the sidelines, COP30 is finally turning on the profiteers who’ve brought us to the brink of climate breakdown - with more than 80 countries now demanding a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. For a decade, these negotiations have been spinning their wheels because the money simply hasn’t been there. The fix is obvious: Make the polluters pay. This industry has lied, blocked progress, and kept governments in a chokehold. We’re here to say enough. Stop pouring public money into oil, gas and coal. It’s time they picked up the bill.”
Harjeet Singh, Climate Activist and Founding Director, Satat Sampada Climate Foundation said: "We must stop rolling out the red carpet for the industries burning down our planet. With over 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists here at COP30 , we have allowed the arsonists into the fire station to dictate how we fight the flames. Instead of giving them a seat at the table, we should be handing them the bill. They knowingly caused this crisis for profit; now they must pay for the loss and damage as a matter of strict reparations, not charity."
On the ground contact: Alix Vanwaetermeulen, +4369010214921
For interview requests: Denise Robbins, denise@glasgowactions.com, +1 608-320-6582 (WhatsApp, Signal)
About the Organizers:
Make Polluters Pay International Coalition, Make Polluters Pay US, Oxfam, Greenpeace, Stamp Out Poverty, CAN Europe and the Glasgow Actions Team.
For specific questions and to get in touch for interviews, email alix@glasgowactions.com
https://makepolluterspayinternational.org/
See more photos from the event below, as well as from past actions with Glasgow Actions Team:
