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| COP27: Activists 'baffled' that Coca-Cola will be sponsor | COP27: Activists 'baffled' that Coca-Cola will be sponsor |
| (21 days later) | |
| Coca-Cola produces 200,000 bottles a minute | Coca-Cola produces 200,000 bottles a minute |
| Climate activists are "baffled" over Egypt's decision to have Coca-Cola - a major plastic producer - sponsor this year's global climate talks. | Climate activists are "baffled" over Egypt's decision to have Coca-Cola - a major plastic producer - sponsor this year's global climate talks. |
| Campaigners told the BBC the deal undermines the talks, as the majority of plastics are made from fossil fuels. | Campaigners told the BBC the deal undermines the talks, as the majority of plastics are made from fossil fuels. |
| Coca-Cola said it "shares the goal of eliminating waste and appreciates efforts to raise awareness". | Coca-Cola said it "shares the goal of eliminating waste and appreciates efforts to raise awareness". |
| This year's COP27 UN climate talks are hosted by the Egyptian government in November in Sharm el-Sheikh. | This year's COP27 UN climate talks are hosted by the Egyptian government in November in Sharm el-Sheikh. |
| Egypt announced it had signed the sponsorship deal last week. | Egypt announced it had signed the sponsorship deal last week. |
| At the signing, Coca-Cola Global Vice-President, Public Policy and Sustainability Michael Goltzman said: "Through the COP27 partnership, the Coca-Cola system aims to support collective action against climate change." | At the signing, Coca-Cola Global Vice-President, Public Policy and Sustainability Michael Goltzman said: "Through the COP27 partnership, the Coca-Cola system aims to support collective action against climate change." |
| But opposition to the decision has grown over the past week over Coca-Cola's links to plastic pollution. Climate activists are accusing the company of "greenwashing" and more than 5,000 have now signed a petition, external calling for the decision to be reversed. | But opposition to the decision has grown over the past week over Coca-Cola's links to plastic pollution. Climate activists are accusing the company of "greenwashing" and more than 5,000 have now signed a petition, external calling for the decision to be reversed. |
| The company admitted in 2019 that it uses three million tonnes of plastic packaging in a year. | The company admitted in 2019 that it uses three million tonnes of plastic packaging in a year. |
| Found on every continent and in the oceans, plastic is a major source of pollution. Its production also contributes to global warming. Currently 99% of global plastic is produced from fossil fuels, external in a process called 'cracking' which produces greenhouse gas emissions and drives climate change. | Found on every continent and in the oceans, plastic is a major source of pollution. Its production also contributes to global warming. Currently 99% of global plastic is produced from fossil fuels, external in a process called 'cracking' which produces greenhouse gas emissions and drives climate change. |
| And in 2021, an audit from Break Free From Plastic, external named Coca-Cola as the world's number one plastic polluter. | And in 2021, an audit from Break Free From Plastic, external named Coca-Cola as the world's number one plastic polluter. |
| Mohammad Ahmadi of Earth Uprising International said: "This action by the COP27 presidency goes against the purpose of the conference." | Mohammad Ahmadi of Earth Uprising International said: "This action by the COP27 presidency goes against the purpose of the conference." |
| This was a sentiment echoed by Steve Trent, CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, who called on Egypt to reverse the decision. | This was a sentiment echoed by Steve Trent, CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, who called on Egypt to reverse the decision. |
| Neither Egypt's COP27 presidency nor UNFCCC - the UN's climate change body - responded to the BBC's request for comment on the sponsorship deal. | Neither Egypt's COP27 presidency nor UNFCCC - the UN's climate change body - responded to the BBC's request for comment on the sponsorship deal. |
| Last year when the UK government hosted the climate talks, they banned fossil fuel companies from sponsoring the event. | Last year when the UK government hosted the climate talks, they banned fossil fuel companies from sponsoring the event. |
| Mr Trent said: "Coca-Cola's whole business model is predicated on fossil fuels. They have made promises to improve recycling which have never been met." | Mr Trent said: "Coca-Cola's whole business model is predicated on fossil fuels. They have made promises to improve recycling which have never been met." |
| Youth activists have been protesting ahead of COP27 in November | Youth activists have been protesting ahead of COP27 in November |
| Coca-Cola told the BBC it recognised it needs to do more: "While we have made progress against our World Without Waste goals, we're also committed to do more, faster." | Coca-Cola told the BBC it recognised it needs to do more: "While we have made progress against our World Without Waste goals, we're also committed to do more, faster." |
| Climate activists the BBC spoke to were not only concerned about the signal the sponsorship sent, but also how it could affect the negotiations. | Climate activists the BBC spoke to were not only concerned about the signal the sponsorship sent, but also how it could affect the negotiations. |
| Nyombi Morris, a climate activist from Uganda and a UNOCHA Ambassador, told the BBC: "When polluters dominate climate negotiations, we don't get good results. As an African activist, I am concerned that more of our lakes are going to be filled with plastics again." | Nyombi Morris, a climate activist from Uganda and a UNOCHA Ambassador, told the BBC: "When polluters dominate climate negotiations, we don't get good results. As an African activist, I am concerned that more of our lakes are going to be filled with plastics again." |
| Last year the BBC revealed the impact that plastic pollution by Coca-Cola was having on remote communities across the world. | Last year the BBC revealed the impact that plastic pollution by Coca-Cola was having on remote communities across the world. |
| Panorama investigates Coca-Cola's promises to crack down on plastic waste | Panorama investigates Coca-Cola's promises to crack down on plastic waste |
| Coca-Cola told the BBC that it remains committed to: "collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one we sell by 2030." | Coca-Cola told the BBC that it remains committed to: "collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one we sell by 2030." |