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Based on fresh findings, cabinet members met with delegates from the petroleum industry over 500 times during their first year in office – amounting to two times each business day.

Significant Increase Compared to Prior Leadership

The study found that petroleum sector advocates were present at 48% additional ministerial meetings during the current government's initial year versus the prior year.

Official Response

Ministers supported the meetings, asserting that ministers held meetings with a broad spectrum of representatives from "the energy industry, worker groups and civil society to advance our renewable energy major project".

Rising Worries About Sector Pressure

Yet, the results have raised concern among analysts about the degree of the fossil fuel industry's influence over ministers at a period when ministers are striving to lower bills and transition to a more sustainable energy system.

Major Discoveries

The research, which draws from the official published record of official engagements, further discovered:

• Officials at the Energy and Climate Department met with fossil fuel lobbyists 274 times, with corporate delegates attending nearly 25% of meetings.

• The secretary for energy and climate change held discussions with oil industry representatives 250 times – with a third of each discussion attended by corporate delegates.

• During the same period government representatives met with trade union representatives 61 times.

• Three leading fossil fuel companies held discussions with officials 100 times collectively.

• Oil industry representatives were present at nearly all official session about the windfall tax, a temporary tax on the "unprecedented revenues" of offshore energy corporations.

Political Reactions

A Green party MP commented: "Rather than listening to scientists, populations suffering from climate events, or families anxious to ensure a protected environment for their future generations, this government is emphasizing lobbyists and revenues for major petroleum companies."

Government Rebuttal

Officials insisted the results were "inaccurate", saying numerous of the firms included also had renewable energy projects and that such matters were often the primary subject of the discussions.

"Our main focus is a fair, organized and successful transition in the marine area in line with our ecological and statutory obligations, and we are collaborating with the field to safeguard existing and upcoming populations of quality employment."

Global Background

Various major fossil fuel corporations have been condemned for slashing their green investments in the past few years amid a global pushback against environmental measures.

An advocacy leader from an climate legal group stated: "The government vowed a people-focused leadership, but that shouldn't involve submitting to businesses making money out of climate catastrophe. It's necessary to cease favoring polluters and put people first."