COP27: Activists "baffled" that Coca-Cola will be sponsor

Image source, HECTOR RETAMAL

Climate activists are puzzled by Egypt's decision to sponsor the global climate talks.

The majority of plastic is made from fossil fuels, according to the campaign.

The goal of eliminating waste is shared by Coca-Cola.

In November, the Egyptian government will host the UN climate talks.

Last week, Egypt said it had signed a sponsorship deal.

The Coca-Cola system wants to support collective action against climate change according to Michael Goltzman at the signing.

Coca-Cola's links to plastic pollution has led to an increase in opposition to the decision. More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling for the company to reverse its decision.

In a year, the company uses three million tonnes of plastic.

Plastic is one of the major sources of pollution. Its production contributes to climate change. Fossil fuels are used in a process called 'cracking' to make 99% of global plastic.

Coca-Cola will be the world's number one plastic polluter in 2021.

The action by the presidency goes against the purpose of the conference according to Mohammad Ahmadi.

The CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation called on Egypt to reverse the decision.

The UN's climate change body and Egypt's COP 27 presidency did not respond to the request for comment.

Fossil fuel companies were banned from sponsoring the climate talks in the UK last year.

The business model of Coca-Cola is based on fossil fuels. They promised to improve recycling, but have never done so.

Image source, NurPhoto/Getty Images

While we have made progress against our World Without Waste goals, Coca-Cola is committed to do more, faster.

The signal the sponsorship sent, as well as how it could affect the negotiations, were among the concerns of climate activists.

When polluters dominate climate negotiations, we don't get good results, according to a climate activist. I am worried that more of our lakes will be filled with plastic again.

The impact of Coca-Cola's plastic pollution on remote communities around the world was revealed last year.

Coca-Cola is committed to collecting and recycling a bottle or can for every one it sells by the year 2030.